INDIA IS AT A CRITICAL STAGE IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS AS FEARS OF COMMUNITY TRANSMISSIONS RISE. DURING ITS LOCKDOWN FRONTLINE WORKERS OF OUR ORGANISATION ARE STILL GOING OUT EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE SAFE DRINKING WATER FACILITY TO CONSUMERS.
I SPOKE TO SAGAR PATIL WHO IS AN OPERATOR OF HDFC LIFE SUPPORTED LOCATION AT KUNDANE, MAHARASHTRA FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE CONVERSATION.
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Story by Jay Raval
Sagar Patil, aged 28 years has been working as the plant operator, since the plant was inaugurated. Young and energetic, Sagar who resides in the village is familiar with the village and community. He was part of behavior change communication led interventions in 2019, supporting the team in identifying the households in the and providing language support during the conduct of intervention.
During my last visit at Kundane, he shared that he is constructing a new house in the village. In the starting of the conversation, he mentions that “Sir woh ghar ka bataya tha na, uske kaam meh tha aapke call ane se pehle” and curiously asks how is everything in Ahmedabad.
Sarvajal Consumers are following social distancing while taking water from plant at Kundane
Then quickly he adds about the water situation, “Sir do you know in our village community members are much tensed and no one is going to take water from the Phata”. Phata is a place 3 km away from Kundane where most of the people bring drinking water available free from a govt pipeline (illegally broken). From where they are fetching water now? I asked. Sagar quickly responds “Sir, those who were going to take water from Phata, most of them are now taking water from the Sarvajal plant”. This is quite evident when one seems water offtake which has increased by 50% when compared with last month, dispensing 1000 litres per day. Sagar shares a concern “Demand for the cards have increased, and people have paid money in advance, but I don’t have any cards”. As there is a shortage of new Sarvajal RFID cards, I suggest that you do a recharge of 1000 for 10 consumers in your card and start maintaining the dispense data of those 10 consumers in hard copy. He appreciates the suggestion and our conversation moves further.
Sagar enthusiastically talks about the corona prevention steps he has taken for the Sarvajal safe drinking water facility. His resourcefulness in ensuring the continuous supply of water at the plant is evident when he says “Along with sanitising the ATM and the premises, I have cleaned the membrane with the help of one of my friends as no JFE can travel in this lockdown. I did not mind spending my own money to get the materials for the Sarvajal plant.
There was one spare tank, as there is a shortage of the water from gram panchayat I have started using that tank for storing the water”
Boys and men…young and experienced aged group of people maintaining,
'दो गज की दूरी'
Sagar is well connected with the community and he is aware about consumers who are not taking water. He adds “I have requested those consumers who are not taking water to share their card with needy community members”. There is a sense of pride and belonging when he says “Sir humara pani ek baar pite hai toh aadat jaegi hi nai, esa log bolne lag gae hai.”
Sagar spends major time of the day at Sarvajal plant, following the COVID safeguards, interacting with those who come to take water. Twice a day he starts the purification tank process and in free time for his entertainment watches movies. He understands the importance of providing safe drinking water in this difficult time. He tells that Gram Sevak (sarpanch) and influential members of the community are requesting others to take water from Sarvajal as there are very less chances to get a virus while taking the water. Women are vocal about telling other community members, especially when someone does not obey the social distancing at Sarvajal plant. He ends the conversation by telling, “With our initiatives, villagers are being made aware about safeguards against COVID-19”. Both I and front-line warrior disconnected the call with hope in our hearts and smiles on our faces.
