Vallithathankottai Village in the Jawadhi Hills
A Short Introduction to Model Village #2 Christian Medical College, Vellore, Community Health & Development September 2017 A first meeting was held in July 2017 about bring the Model Village program to Vallithathankottai. This meeting was attended by :The village Oran, Elders from the village, representatives from most houses in the village, Pump operator, Don Bosco staff (Fr. Vinodh, Mr David, Mr Mani, Mr Govindan, Mr Praveen) and CHAD staff ( Dr. Anu Rose, Mr. Dhinakaran) People from the Village described the strengths and weaknesses of their village. They knew of the program in Koiloor and want be part of the Model Village program. Strengths were described as: • agriculture, with most families owning farmland and many people owning wells. • accessible by road. • water tank connected to the main well. • good village unity and relationship with the Oran • many families have cows and livestock. • there is a night school in the village • not far from the Veerapanoor Clinic Weaknesses included: • the wells are close to dry and now the village is facing a shortage of water for drinking and domestic purposes • most of the agriculture has been stopped to save water for household use. • there are few government interventions in the village. • there is no balwadi or school. • the village has not been included in the government toilet building program. There is only one toilet in the village, built by the government for disabled people, but never used by the disabled as it has steps leading to it and no ramp. Also this is about 2 feet from the well. • alcohol is available in this village. Expressed needs: • Water for domestic and agricultural purposes. • The people will prefer to engage in agriculture for income generation • Toilets for houses • Access to schools for the children The houses in the village are scattered and arranged in little clusters. The people suggested working in one cluster at a time. The first activity will be deepening of one well which will supply the overhead tank. This will be followed by toilet construction, followed by income generation activities. Their contribution was discussed. As in Koiloor, for toilet building they will contribute labour, and transport of materials to their houses from the main village. They will also pay for
some sand. In all other interventions we will discuss their contribution before starting. A working group will be selected and the members will include women and youth who will meet the CHAD/ Don Bosco team regularly. As in Koiloor CHAD will be involved in the planning of the program, procuring materials and monitoring. Don Bosco will monitor the receiving, storing and use of materials as they are locally available. They will also be involved in planning and troubleshooting on a day to day basis. The wells were visited as were the bodies of water in the village; water status was documented. The fields are all ploughed and ready for sowing, but have no water. CHAD is ready to begin work in Vallithathankottai Village as soon as the budget is approved by the Foundation. Other activities planned for this month as part of the model village program: 1. Instalment of the sky-hydrant in the village for providing potable water to the village 2. Shramdhan to clear up the plastics and garbage in the village 3. Solid waste management system 4. Children’s parliament for the village 5. Reintroduction into CHAD mobile clinic schedule
A Bore Well
Dry Fields‌
Cotton Field
‌and dry water collection tanks
Gherkins growing
At the Well
Water pump