LATEST PROJECTS :
Toilet project at Lambani Village
The white, corrugated, tin roof shimmers in the afternoon light.
When you step inside, you find a roomy bathroom with an Indian-style
toilet at one end. As the walls are built to ease ventilation, you
can almost feel the cold air rushing in from below, rising and
whooshing out from the top in a cycle that keeps the toilet cool,
even though an end-of-February sun toasts the village.
”This is our family’s toilet,” says Gangubai proudly. ”Our very own.”
A toilet! So what is the big deal?
The reason that Gangubai flaunts her toilet is because she has probably seen about half a dozen of them in her life, let alone owned any. Not until April 7, World Health Day, when the Soroptimists International (SI), Bangalore, inaugurates 31 toilets in the Lambani Tribal Village, Rachaiana Doddi, about 70 kms from Bangalore.
However, the tiny village of 61 households is so remote that it doesn’t even have a bus service, or regular health care personnel. The Soroptimists have introduced income-generating activities, such as tailoring. They help 42 villagers to bag desilting work for minimum wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) of the Government, at a nearby lake. In fact, thanks to the Soroptimists, this is the first of 41 villages to implement the scheme. The SI also has plans for future activities, such as the setting up of a wind mill, the encouragement of bee-keeping, brick-making and other activities.
However, the Soroptimists feels the need to introduce modern methods of health and hygiene. It decides that toilets could help to keep the village well-drained, as well as serve as a model for nearby areas. Later, the group concedes that they need to build a toilet for every household, otherwise, no one would take responsibility or ownership of maintenance.
Interestingly, the Indian-style toilet is unique and has been specially designed for the villagers. It is the brainchild of Mr C.R. Ponnaiah, SI Bangalore’s technical adviser, and husband of Dr. Margaret Ponnaiah, a doctor-member and immediate past President of the SI. He explains the three-chambered plan of the Indian-style toilet, which seems brilliant in its simplicity and effectiveness. ”It requires less maintenance than the toilets consructed usually in the city,” he explains. ”Secondly, it can help the villagers to maintain a vegetable garden.”
Mr Ponnaiah’s untiring efforts have overcome the usual challenges of such work, which includes malingering by the villagers, reluctance to work on their own project, keeping costs to the bare minimum possible, and getting contractors and labourers to complete the work on time. Finally, the toilets are inaugurated on April 7. Enthuses Utta Naik, ”I’ve never even seen a toilet in my life, but here we have 31!”
Women's Day
Visit to Jeevodaya
The smiles said it all!
About 15 women from Jeevodaya Ashram, a Rehabilitation Centre for released women prisoners, spent five lovely hours playing, singing, dancing, sharing jokes, insights and lunch with Soroptimist’s International on March 8, 2009.
To drive home the importance of International Women’s Day, SI members gave a rousing talk about the importance of celebrating their womanhood, trusting God and accepting life’s challenges. It was clear that the women looked forward to an interesting and productive future. For instance, one member wanted to be a news reader, while another wanted to be a doctor, and yet another a counsellor.
SI members then distributed sarees to the 14 women, and presented Sister Mary Rita with a box of bangles which she could distribute later. The sarees and bangles were donated by one of our benefactors, and the food by Mr. Venugopal, a regular donee.
Sue Waters, a Soroptimist from SI Kingston & District, London, UK, who is on a visit to Bangalore also attended the function, accompanied by her husband, Jeremy.