It was the people’s participation factor that made the project a roaring success in Kumily. The people-centred programme created awareness among all classes of people about good sanitary facilities in houses, schools, markets and other private and public spaces and urged them to work for a cleaner environment in Kumily.
The importance of cleanliness was brought to the attention of all sections of people – labourers, students, employed people etc. The local self-government initiated a strategy which involved educational institutions, anganwadis, Kudumbasrees and so on in the campaign towards a cleaner Kumily.
Anganwadi, which means courtyard shelter in Hindi, refers to a government-sponsored child-care and mother-care centre. Anganwadis were started by the Indian government in 1975 as part of the Integrated Child Development Services program to combat child hunger and malnutrition.
Kudumbasrees (Kudumbashree is prosperity or shree of the family or kudumbam) are self-help groups of women launched by the Government of Kerala in 1998. Kudumbashree is today one of the largest women-empowering projects in the country. The programme has 37 lakh members and covers more than 50% of the households in Kerala.
The Information, Education and Communication Campaign in institutions and communities, with the involvement of the Health Department, ICDS (Social Welfare), Sanitation Mission and various other agencies and line departments helped make a strong impression on the local people. Various projects were conceived, planned and implemented, and funds raised to carry out effective waste management.
Other projects that contributed to Sanitation |