Community-Driven Transformation: Odisha's
“Clean and Green Village” Initiative
Atmashakti’s “Model Villages” initiative in Odisha is a testament to the power of community-driven transformation, closely aligning with the fifth LSDG of creating Clean and Green Villages. Through effective community engagement, the initiative has not only improved infrastructure and sanitation but also instilled a deep sense of ownership and empowerment among villagers, ensuring that these positive changes will endure for generations.
Leveraging community assets through MGNREGS and capitalizing on the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Atmashakti mobilized over 95,000 households from 1240 villages, under MGNREGS, encouraging them to build their own toilets. Through effective use of those schemes, these communities built nearly 59,259 toilets themselves. Each family received INR 12,000, ensuring the toilets were designed to meet local needs, including crucial features like water storage in areas with limited access to water, particularly in tribal areas, ensuring practicality and consistent usage. The contrast between community-built toilets and those constructed by contractors was stark—while contractor-built toilets often became storage rooms due to poor design and material, those built by the community were not only used regularly but also maintained with care. The consistent effort later brought 468 water conservation and harvesting assets across the region.
The initiative’s impact extended beyond sanitation and raised the critical issue of water safety, a key component of LSDG5. Atmashakti conducted 35 training sessions for more than 1,000 leaders from 340 villages, equipping them with the skills to identify and report water contamination. This community-driven approach led to the testing of 367 water samples, with results obtained through the Right to Information Act.
Hundreds of villages were mobilized to apply for soak pits, handpump platforms, and proper drainage systems under MGNREGS, significantly improving waste management and reducing the reliance on traditional energy sources. This community-driven approach also led to enhanced green cover through social forestry, further supporting biodiversity and cleaner environments.
These changes have not only enhanced access to essential services but also improved daily life, reinforcing the importance of grassroots mobilization in driving lasting, community-led development.
Atmashakti’s initiative underscores the immense potential of empowering communities to take charge of their development, making Odisha’s villages healthier, greener, and more sustainable for the future.
Leveraging community assets through MGNREGS and capitalizing on the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Atmashakti mobilized over 95,000 households from 1240 villages, under MGNREGS, encouraging them to build their own toilets. Through effective use of those schemes, these communities built nearly 59,259 toilets themselves. Each family received INR 12,000, ensuring the toilets were designed to meet local needs, including crucial features like water storage in areas with limited access to water, particularly in tribal areas, ensuring practicality and consistent usage. The contrast between community-built toilets and those constructed by contractors was stark—while contractor-built toilets often became storage rooms due to poor design and material, those built by the community were not only used regularly but also maintained with care. The consistent effort later brought 468 water conservation and harvesting assets across the region.
The initiative’s impact extended beyond sanitation and raised the critical issue of water safety, a key component of LSDG5. Atmashakti conducted 35 training sessions for more than 1,000 leaders from 340 villages, equipping them with the skills to identify and report water contamination. This community-driven approach led to the testing of 367 water samples, with results obtained through the Right to Information Act.
Hundreds of villages were mobilized to apply for soak pits, handpump platforms, and proper drainage systems under MGNREGS, significantly improving waste management and reducing the reliance on traditional energy sources. This community-driven approach also led to enhanced green cover through social forestry, further supporting biodiversity and cleaner environments.
These changes have not only enhanced access to essential services but also improved daily life, reinforcing the importance of grassroots mobilization in driving lasting, community-led development.
Atmashakti’s initiative underscores the immense potential of empowering communities to take charge of their development, making Odisha’s villages healthier, greener, and more sustainable for the future.