Gorthan
2015-2016
Palghar
Households: 133
People: 845
Intervention
Integrated Village Development and Integrated School Development
Lives Impacted
0
Homes Illuminated
0
Donor
Walter Tools India Pvt Ltd
Grassroot Partner
Diganta Swaraj Foundation
Assessment
Gorthan village in Jawhar, Palghar, is divided into two wadi’s (hamlets), Mothi wadi (Main Village) and Choti wadi (small village). The village comprises of 133 households, a Zilla Parishad school and an Anganwadi, and a Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya for girls with 180 girl students. There is no provision for safe drinking water in the village nor at the school and while there is a well in the village, desilting work is required. A unique concept, the school is a bridge school for girls that have for a myriad of reasons had to drop their education at the village level. The school was in desperate need for infrastructure support as it faced great load shedding.With no access to drinking water, the health indicators in both village and boarding school were abysmal.
Intervention
Project Chirag’s intervention began with electrifying all the homes in the village, providing them with solar home lighting systems that included 2 bulbs, a mobile charging facility and a portable lantern. 2 Street Lights have been installed at strategic points, with villagers being able to move around more freely post sunset. We installed 2 solar powered water filter units. 20 saplings each have been distributed to 65 villagers, so that in upcoming years they will get an income from these saplings. Solar electrification of the school will allow for engaged learning and enhanced education, along with a distribution of sanitary napkins to inculcate a behavioural change towards female hygiene and health. A scholarship has also been instituted to bright stars in the schools for their further education.
Impact
While the impact of this project at the school level is yet to be seen due to COVID restrictions, the village is flourishing with better health indicators now that they have access to clean and pure drinking water. The solar powered electrification of the homes and streets have empowered the villagers to work towards community development. We see women able to complete their chores and make better, productive use of their time, while children are able to study at night and families convene in their lit up homes after dark.
