Palghar, Maharashtra: Approximately 190 kilometres from India's financial capital Mumbai, Warghadpada is a predominantly tribal village situated in Mokhada taluka in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. It’s a hilly region, replete with basalt rock and vast stretches of barren land. There is hardly enough water to drink let alone do farming. In addition to the lack of water and livelihood opportunities, it doesn’t have basic amenities such as electricity, education and healthcare.

But it’s all in the past now. Warghadpada, a village of five wadis (namely Warghad, Bandarwadi, Bhangrewadi, Varchiwadi and Ghanewadi) is on its way to achieving a five-point sustainability model of clean and renewable energy, health and sanitation, education, social security and livelihood. It now boasts of a water filtration plant, piped water system, irrigation system, solar-energy based electricity for houses and a society-monitored public toilet system.

The transformation is a glowing example of the power of the collective, and has been built on the twin principles of bhoodaan (donation of land) and shramdaan (voluntary contribution involving physical activity). In other words, the big landowners agreed to donate some part of their land for the larger cause of the village while the small peasants toiled away to meet these goals.

This intervention was led by two NGOs at the tail-end of 2019. While Diganta Swaraj Foundation works in the areas of education, healthcare and livelihood in Maharashtra, Project Chirag works to providing solar home lighting systems to rural households that have no access to electricity.

"Initially, there was reluctance among the villagers as land is the only asset we have. But when they [the NGOs] explained their plans to us, we could see that it would bring about substantial changes in the area and end our sufferings,” says Madhukar Ghane, who donated his land to build a solar grid near the village, which is mostly inhabited by Warli and Mahadeo Koli tribes.

Clean water, good life

Until 2019, the villagers used to fetch water by either digging pits or walking to a dam three kilometres away. The villagers didn’t know how to divert the water from the dam and use it judiciously. So that was the first problem that the NGOs resolved by installing a water filtration plant in Warghadpada.

The water filtration plant. Credit: Dev Kotak

“The water filtration plant consists of a pump submerged inside the lake. It pulls the water through suction up to a height of 80 feet and stores it an overhead tank of 50,000-litre capacity," informs Rahul Tivrekar, the founder and director of Diganta Swaraj Foundation.

The plant works on ultra-filtration technology. It’s power-efficient and a good idea for a village that suffers from the irregular electricity supply, he adds. Furthermore, the overhead tank is connected to taps across the village.

As a result, the village of over 500 people and 150 cattle at least have access to clean drinking water now. Though the water for irrigation still falls short.   

Having said that, the filtration plant has improved the lives of the womenfolk. “Now with at least six taps installed in the village, we don’t have to go to the lake. Our body and feet don't hurt and, most importantly, it saves us three hours daily,” says a woman on the condition of anonymity. The extra time has allowed a few of them to now work as housemaids in the adjoining areas.

Earlier, the villagers had to walk three kilometres to fetch water. Credit: Dev Kotak

The availability of clean drinking water has led to a drop in the cases of water-borne diseases in the village. An ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) worker, who did not want to be named, tells 101Reporters, “Earlier our stock of 50 tablets (for cough, fever and dysentery) would last for about two months. But our last stock lasted for eight months!”

The tap water facility was followed by the construction of public toilets in the hamlet. This has brought down the instances of open defecation and made the women feel safer.

"Earlier, we had to wait till the dark or venture out very early in the morning to the fields. And it was always embarrassing to take someone along to relieve ourselves. [But] after the construction of toilets, we don't have to worry about our security," says another woman anonymously.

Solar energy ends electricity woes

The water filtration plant would not run if not for a solar grid that Project Chirag has established on the periphery of the lake. This is because the village of Warghadpada doesn’t get a steady supply of electricity.  

The electrical energy received from the grid activates the main control board that draws water from the dam and stores it in the overhead tank. Narendra Ghane, a 30-year-old farmer, who is in charge of operating the main control board, says, “The dam caters to Warghad and Gumbadpada villages. I run the motor for two to three hours every day to meet our requirements and fill up the tank.”

Clean energy and lighting have had far-reaching effects. Around 108 households in Warghadpada today have solar home lighting systems comprising of two bulbs, mobile charging facility and a portable lantern installed under Project Chirag. The farmers are able to save close to Rs100 per litre, which they would earlier spend to run the kerosene lamps. The lamps would also give off dangerous fumes, which the villagers don’t have to put up with any more.

Now the families have solar-powered lights at home. Credit: Dev Kotak

“Load shedding is common here, and for almost four months during the monsoon, we get no electricity. Now we have a solar panel and lamps to help us out,” Asha Khode, a 20-year-old housewife, shares her happiness.

Migration curbed

These sustainability programmes have addressed the issue of migration in this tribal village. Labourers, who had returned to their homes during the pandemic, now grow and sell their farm produce in the open markets.

The Diganta Swaraj Foundation has begun drives to educate farmers and to train them in new farming methods. The farmers feel it is better to work for nine hours on their field than to work for someone else for lesser wages.

However, education does remain a challenge and it has suffered further because of the pandemic. On the one hand, schools and junior colleges within the Zila Parishad aren’t fully equipped to impart e-learning. On the other hand, many children haven’t been able to take online classes since the lockdown because their parents do not own a phone, leave a smartphone.