The system designed to recharge the local well by the overflow - a community led innovation at Randola_1024x729

Randola in Palitana taluka of Bhavnagar district is a village that has many successes to its credit.

During last year, when epidemic broke out in Palitana due to contaminated water, people used to take potable water from Randola. This was because water available in Randola was subject to chlorination and hygienic practices were adopted at source of water supply. This comes as quite a surprise as Randola used to get water from nearby Palitana due to acute scarcity of water. This success story is only due to the untiring efforts of Pani Samiti of Randola.

Under the Swajaldhara programme, an ESR having capacity of 50,000 liters, 1 sump, cattle trough, 1 stand post and distribution line have been constructed. In the words of Sarpanch, Mahipatsinhji, “Like all other villages, in past we had to depend on wells dug in the outskirts of the village. Women had to walk a distance of about 1.5 km to fetch water from the well. Then we heard about Swajaldhara scheme being implemented by WASMO. We rushed to WASMO office in Bhavnagar and from then onwards the face of our village started changing.”

At the same time, the village also joined in the Mahi group water supply scheme with tap connection for every household. There was no fixed timing for supply of water from Mahi group scheme and this has resulted in overflow of the sump leading to water clogging in the village. To overcome this problem, an innovative method was adopted by Pani Samiti. A pipe line was laid from the sump to the well of the village so that the overflow is taken to the well thereby stopping discharge of water to the village streets. Thus the village has made rapid strides in the matter of overall development.

The Pani Samiti collects water tariff at the rate of Rs.250/- per household and Rs.50/- towards cleanliness charge.

On entering the village, the first sight which attracts a visitor is the school which has been kept meticulously clean. The school with 554 students has a dress code for teachers too, where hygiene has been given the top most priority. Children attend school after taking bath and the teachers ensure that nails of students are cut regularly. Every classroom has been provided with mirror, nail cutter, comb, etc. A suggestion box has also been kept in which children can put their suggestions in writing. There is one computer lab also in the school and from 5th standard onwards, computer learning has been made compulsory. This will enable children to keep pace with the modern world. It is a matter of pride for this village that this school building has been constructed without any financial support from the government.