Planting Peepal in Open Defecation Areas had a Drastic Effect on Rajasthan’s Population…
In Kurabad block of Udaipur, Peepal (Ficus Religiosa or Sacred Fig) is regarded as a holy tree by the villagers. Consequently, hundreds of Rajasthan women resolved to protect and plant more Peepal trees in their village on the auspicious occasion of ‘Dasha Mata’ poojan this week. The idea was to promote Swachh Bharat Mission in Rajasthan. Sounds confusing, right? Here’s how they accomplished the impossible.
In Udaipur, Rajasthan Local Women Find a ‘Religious’ Solution to Public Defecation
Local mythologies in Rajasthan state that the Peepal tree is the holy abode of Goddess Dasha Mata. Villagers worship the tree and keep its surroundings clean due to cultural significance. The women targeted this religious sentiment to encourage toilet construction among villagers.
Taking help from a UK-based NGO Wells for India and its partner firm HVVS (Hanuman Van Vikas Samiti), the villagers undertook mass Peepal plantation in and around the places where people openly defecate.
According to O.P. Sharma, the country director of WI, a similar initiative implemented by the locales in past received positive results. Last year, the women planted 70 Peepal trees near fields and barren grounds. Consequently, people refrained themselves from defecating near the trees, considering it unholy. Luckily, this has triggered construction of 400 new toilets in three gram panchayats falling under Kurabad block.
The results have encouraged more NGOs and social groups to stop people from open defecation. Planting trees will help them kill two birds with a single stone—control air pollution and preventing bowel diseases caused by open defecation. Thrilled by the success of their endeavors, the women are spreading this message to the other states, in the hopes of seeing their village ODF (open defecation free) in future.
This drive has attracted the attention of several district administrators, public representatives and government leaders. Today, 141 volunteers from 544 gram panchayats have joined the drive to promote Swachh Bharat mission in every part of Rajasthan. The women are hopeful this drive will help them accomplish this mission some day!
