Experiential Learning

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Tata Institute of Social Sciences-Hyderabad

Experiential Learning Report

1. Course Code                                : BA-SS-EL-1

2. Course Title                                        : Experiential Learning

3. Program Dates                                : 24-28 April 2017

4. Name of the Student                        : Shaik. Mirza Mohan Bethune

5. Thematic Area Chosen                        : Health and Education aspects in the village.

Gagadevipally is a village in Geesugonda mandal of Warangal. The village has earned reputation as a model village. The village is governed by the Gram Panchayat. In 1994, it earned the special village panchayat status. In first two panchayat elections in 1995 and 2001, all the representatives were women, in 2006, Mr.Koosam Rajamouli was elected as the Sarpanch. Current sarpanch is a Women named Mrs.Intla Santhi. Gangadevipally earned several Awards. Some of the indicators of this village development are 100% literacy, complete prohibition of Alcohol, Availability of toilets in every house, Family planning for all households and Drinking water.

Gangadevipalli has 13 committees. The village is divided into 18 sectors. Each committee includes of 11 to 25 members.

Below are committees we came across…

• Alcohol prohibition Committee – to prevent Alcohol.
• Drinking water Committee – To take care of water supply.
• Education Committee – Maintenance of schools.
• Ganga dish Committee – Issuance of cable connection to the villagers.
• Health Committee – Protection of Health. Family planning.
• Mothers Committee – Take care of pregnant women.
• Loan Recovery Committee – To ensure that the farmers to pay their bank loans.
• Village Development Committee – All development activities regarding to villages.

The village is able to do all this with help of Bala Vikasa, a reputed Warangal-based NGO working with community driven development for the last three decades.

ACHIEVEMENTS EARNED BY THE VILLAGE.

100% alcohol prohibition.

100% house tax collection

100% houses have toilets

100% usage of toilets

100% family planning (all families have only two children)

100% participation in savings’ groups/schemes

100% literacy

100% drinking purified water

100% child labor free

100% children attend school

Our group of 11 people was coordinated by Dr.Johny. No NGO helped us with our observations. We were assisted by the village ex-president Mr.Koosam Rajamouli through whom we got to know about the village committee members and some information regarding village. According to the village, there are claims that alcohol has been banned within the village 25 years ago, but we found some traces of Alcohol bottles within the village and we came across some drunk people. Regarding drinking water before 1993 the village experienced water scarcity. In 1993, BalaVikasa offered to build two tanks in the village with the condition that villagers have to pay 15% of the cost. 15% of the tank cost amounted to rupees 52,500. The Drinking water is provided through ATW (Any Time Water) which carries purified water. Drinking water head is Mr.Malla Reddy who takes care of daily use water and purified water. He manages the two overhead tanks and water from bore well and Drinking water committee does not concern about the agricultural land. There are total 40 bore wells in the village. For daily use water the opening time for motors is 6-11am. 20 litres of purified water is given to one household for Re. 1, an extra can of 20 litters will cost Rs. 4. Water supply is disconnected if any family is found watering the plants directly from tap, overflowing from the tubs, and water stagnation at the tap surroundings or on/off regulator is not fixed. The families have to pay a penalty of Rs. 100 for reconnection. Until the penalty is paid neighbours are not allowed to give water. Regarding health there are 3 clinics in the village out of which only 1 is active (24 X 7). The is no ambulance, Hospitals and medical shops Available in the village if the medical case is severe people in the village prefer going to Warangal for the treatment. We didn’t find any cases of cancer or epidemics and there is no proper disposal of plastic waste. If it is organic waste they use it as a fertilizer and if it is a plastic they burn it, but dustbins are only found in school in the entire village. Medical camps and polio camps are set by the LIONS CLUB. Abortion is not allowed in the village.

        Women in the village use sanitary napkins instead of clothes. This is a development when considering other villages in this aspect. The government supplies medicines for basic diseases and these medicines are supplied by the Aanganwadi worker. This village was prone to public defecation before 2000. On January 26, 2000, the village took a challenge of constructing toilets for all the houses within the village. The project was completed in 3 months but it took three years for all the people of the village to use the toilets. Hence, after a lot of hard work, the village witnessed zero open defecation. Even in today’s condition, many villages are prone to open defecation. Comparing those villages, one may conclude that Gangadevipally is cleaner.

        Caste system is prevalent in the village. However, caste system isn’t followed intensely to cause any disruptions within the village. Caste systems are kept away from the school premises.

Coming to Education there are 2 schools within the village and another 1 in the neighbouring village Machapur. The schools which are within the village are zilla parishad(Govt) and Pragati (Private). In zilla parishad high school the bus facility is available free education free food and free books. The subjects are Maths, Social Science, Science, English, Telugu and Hindi. Aanganwadi is the take for food, health and education of the children in the school. Small kids between ages 3-10 get food even when the school is closed. Curricular and Co-Curricular activities like studies and sports is encouraged by the school.