Health is wealth is a famous proverb that has stood the tests of adversity. However, we tend to forget this adage in our routine life. Nature has its unique way to bring us back on track. Today, across the globe we have come to realize that the only important fact is the lives of our loved ones!! The national lockdown has got everyone to a standstill.
The villages we work in are also living through the same experience. Each one of us has the same routine now. Stay home and stay safe. Wash hands frequently and maintains social distancing are the mantras that we are following religiously as a daily routine.
One of our IndusInd Bank’s Jal Jeevan Kendra under Hinduja Foundation’s initiative is one such village – Sohaniya, in Uttar Pradesh, which is operated by Amit Kumar and serving safe drinking water to its community every day even in these trying times.
The operator sanitizes the machine, water ATM and the neighbouring area thoroughly every day. He has been educating the users to wash their utensils, their hands and stand a meter apart from each other while in the queue to fill water.
Sarvajal’s team has shared IEC material for Dos and DONTs to fight against the spread of the virus. Amit has displayed all the materials at the plant and ATM location for people to read and be informed and careful. The village panchayat requested this information to be displayed at all prominent places in the village like the Panchayat Bhavan, Anganwadi centre and throughout the village, which has also been done.
The Sarpanch has sanitized the entire village and cleaned the village thoroughly. The village borders have been sealed and each one is monitored for their entry and exit to and from the village. The Asha workers and Anganwadi didis along with Amit and the Sarpanch are doing door to door visits explaining people not to move out of the house and take precautionary measures at home. They are educating people on how to wash hands, keeping the surroundings clean and ventilated at all times.
The Sarpanch has proactively converted all govt schools into night shelters for people who came from outside the village. The people were tested and even when their results were negative, they have been asked to stay away from the village for 14 days to ensure everyone’s safety. All the facilities have been arranged for them in school.
Frequent update of the village’s health status is being taken by the Gram Panchayat to ensure all are safe and healthy.
