One of the two first Samaj Shilpi Damapti were Rajendra and Manju Singh. This SSD couple transformed a backward village named Devlaha 40 kilometers away from Chitrakoot into a model village. Recounts the couple, “The village is set amidst jungle and is nearly 250 year old. It is dominated by tribals — Kol, Gond and Mawasi. We came to this village on July 5 1996 and under the guidance of Nanaji started constructive work for the development of the village. Before we began our work, the village was backward in every sense. As a majority of the population was tribal, they did not know how to lead a healthy lifestyle. In fact, they still lived like tribals that live in the jungle. The village lacked all the basic facilities for education, health, sanitation, water, roads and employment.
There was one primary school but there was no environment for education. The school building was in a dilapidated condition and was surrounded by heaps of garbage and shrubs. The classrooms also remained dirty. As parents were not interested in sending their children to school, both the teachers and students hardly came to school.
The wells, that were main source of drinking water, was dirty and the main source of all kinds of water borne diseases like cholera, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and malaria. The village was also unclean and surrounded by heaps of garbage everywhere. There was hardly any health activity like family planning, vaccination and safe delivery in the area. Females and children here were suffering due to malnourishment. There was high maternal and infant mortality rate.
Disputes arising out of casteism and other factors were common in every family. Other ills like illiteracy, gambling and addiction were also common here. The rate of unemployment was also very high in the village as agriculture is only the source of income. However, due to lack of irrigation facilities and advanced technology of farming, production was very low. 75 percent of the population here was under debt. For this reason, a majority of the youths migrated to nearby Satna district to work as labourers in cement or other factories.
A majority of the land was owned by the upper castes, including Brahmans and Yadavs. They exploited the tribals and were main obstacle in the path of development of the village. Naturally, we were seen with skepticism. A sense of uneasiness prevailed among the upper castes. They were afraid that their domination could be challenged now. We spoke to them. Tried to allay their fears. Told them that we did not want to disturb the social fabric, but would work to strengthen it. And it was not possible without their active participation.
We started our work, first focusing on children. We surveyed the village and interacted with the families. We met the school going children and teachers and convinced them that education was a must for their development. Through various informal games and co-curricular activities, competitions and exhibitions, we made the education system more appealing and interesting.
We convinced the villagers including the students to clean the school premises and got the school building renovated. Regular parent-teacher meetings were held in the school. We made villagers and educated class aware of their responsibility towards education. The results were heartening. The strength of the students in school increased and children started taking in their studies. Teachers also started coming to school daily. Evening classes were also started for children and elders. Three more primary schools were opened in other parts of the village. A library and children’s park was stared in the area. 15 females, 10 youths and several children were made literate in the area within one year.
As the literacy level improved, the environment of the village became progressive.
Simultaneously, we started activities for improving the health and sanitation in the village. With the help of the panchayat and villagers we took up the activity of cleaning the wells and hand pumps. Regular bleaching and chlorination of water bodies began. Garbage dumping on roads and around houses was stopped. Education on personal hygiene resulted in awareness among the villagers. Besides this, regular vaccination of children for polio and other diseases, pregnant women, health check-up camps were also started. Vitamin doses for children and women were also started. Regular lectures, health weeks on healthy living were organized in the village with the help of health workers here. The villagers were made aware about the facilities at Arogyadham at Chitrakoot and they started availing the facilities. The results were tremendous and there was decline in various diseases and health of the village improved gradually.
For general improvement of the environment in the village, various common celebrations like celebration of Independence Day, Republic Day and other festivals were held with an avowed objective to eradicate casteism and untouchability and promote brotherhood, harmony and unity in the village. Even age-old disputes were discussed in presence of elders of the village and settled without going to police or court.
Above all, serious efforts were made to generate employment for the youth. Self-employment was promoted with the help of Udyamita Vidyapeeth. The youth from the village were trained and provided facilities to start their own business. Water harvesting and techniques were introduced in the village to conserve water for irrigation. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra scientists trained the farmers on new techniques of agriculture. New seeds, which helped in better produce, were introduced. Besides this, they were also trained and motivated to take up other activities like animal husbandry, horticulture, floriculture and vermiculture, to supplement their income. Several activities like pickle making, papad making, bamboo craft, tailoring and weaving etc. were introduced by Udyamita Vidyapeeth to employ women of the villages. Self-help groups were also formed in villages to make women independent.
The Devlaha village is today a transformed village where people no longer lead a life of tribals in the jungles. The graph of literacy, employment, health and sanitation has risen remarkably. The village has almost attained the status of self-reliant village.”