Chhattisgarh women mortgage their jewellery to get toilets built

 

 

RAIPUR: Nothing is hidden about woman's attachment with jewellery. But what shocked the administration in Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh was the initiative of two women from Badedhaba village who mortgaged their jewellery to get the toilets built in their houses. Motivated with these two women, around three dozen other women also did the same and managed to get private toilets for themselves. The village which has 80% population relieving in open had more than 100 new toilets in past four months and now the administration has now come forward to help these families by making them avail the money from government policy under clean India mission.

It started when Jambai (widow of late Sanichar das) and Gaurabai who were forced to attend the nature's call in open have decided to get toilets build for themselves. The women initially approached their families but later had to find the other way when Jambai's in-laws refused to get toilet for her while Gaurabai's husband was more keen to buy a bike then getting a toilet built at home.

The women mortgage their gold necklaces at Rs 20,000 to a rich man in the village and got a toilet. The incident moved the other women of the village who too initiated for building personal toilets.

Talking to TOI, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zila panchyat Mahasamunda district, Pushpendra Meena informed that Badedhaba village under Basna block which has around 307 households had just 10 houses with personal toilets in the month of November, last year.

"In past four months, the village has 125 houses with toilets. The sarpanch has promised that all the households will get toilets built within a month's time, that too without any government aid," CEO.