Jaipur: In Jaipur's Babaramdev Nagar, a group of women has brought significant changes to sanitation in their community. For years, the settlement struggled with poor sanitation services, including a lack of sewer connections and inadequate community toilets. The impact was especially hard on women. However, change began when local women like Manju Rana, Sanju Rana, and Chuttan Begum took the initiative to improve conditions.
These women, from various backgrounds such as fisherwomen, waste pickers, and homemakers, formed the Community Management Committee (CMC) and the Single Window Forum (SWF) to address the issues. After receiving training on sanitation practices and Swachh Bharat Mission guidelines, they created a plan to engage the community and develop sustainable sanitation solutions.
They reached out to different groups within the settlement, including the elderly, single women, and the differently-abled, and mobilised over 400 residents to participate in awareness campaigns on proper sanitation and waste segregation. As a result, 25 new household toilets were built, and plans were underway to construct more. The women also took responsibility for maintaining community toilets, encouraging a sense of shared ownership.
Recognising the importance of women’s perspectives, the women leaders pushed for more female representation in the male-dominated Slum Development Committee. Their efforts ensured that sanitation solutions addressed the needs of all, leading to improved infrastructure and positive behavioural change within the community.
Their work is part of a wider movement under the Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata campaign, which marks the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission. This campaign promotes sustainability and dignity through sanitation, values that the women of Babaramdev Nagar have embraced.
The Swachh Bharat Mission has already made a significant impact across the country, with millions of household toilets constructed in both rural and urban areas. But the story of Babaramdev Nagar shows the importance of community involvement, especially from women, in creating lasting change. Their leadership has not only improved local sanitation but also reshaped how the community views women in leadership roles. /BI
Source: PIB
