Amblamogaru: Be the change you want to see. Mahatma Gandhi not only said these words, but lived them. Ambalamogaru Gram Panchayath President Rafiq, seems to have taken these words to heart and indeed has tried to live them for the betterment of people in his panchayath. How? He took the initiative to provide LPG connections to all households in the village and converted the village into a smoke free village.
India is home to more than 24 Crore households out of which about 10 Crore households are still deprived of LPG as cooking fuel and have to rely on firewood, coal, dung – cakes etc. as primary source of cooking. The smoke from burning such fuels causes alarming household pollution and adversely affects the health of Women & children causing several respiratory diseases/ disorders. As per a WHO report, smoke inhaled by women from unclean fuel is equivalent to burning 400 cigarettes in an hour. In addition, women and children have to go through the drudgery of collecting firewood.
A Central Government scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) which aims to safeguard the health of women & children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel – LPG, so that they don’t have to compromise their health in smoky kitchens or wander in unsafe areas collecting firewood, exists in letter, but not in spirit – It did not reach the intended benefiriciaries in the vilage for a variety of reasons.
Government schemes do not reach everybody for many reasons – Corruption, lack of information, and sometimes just the partisan way they are implemented. There are also individual issues like a lack of time to stand in queues, producing the required documentation and perhaps just a lack of money.
Gram Panchayath President Rafiq, took the responsibility of creating a smoke free village upon himself. Along with U T Fareed Foundation, he provided LPG connections to all 126 households in the Amblamogaru village.
Speaking to newskarnataka.com, Rafiq said, “There are numerous works that cannot be done through the panchayath. There is a need for private and voluntary intervention. This work was mainly initiated by the Congress party workers here especially the youth wing. The work has made many lives better. Working for the poor is the main task that is in hand for me. We had done a survey in the community and found out various problems that needed to be addressed”.
It was under the leadership of Minister U T Khader, that this initiative unfurled and the 126 houses were provided with LPG. Newskarnataka.com spoke to the beneficiaries. There was an underlying sense of happiness all around. Leelavathi Acharthi, a beneficiary said, “There was a dire need for LPG. Since we could not afford to buy LPG for ourselves the panchayath president has helped us to avail this facility.” Baby Bandarthy, also a resident of the village and a beneficiary said, “The initiative taken to understand the people’s need is very good. This is indeed a good sign and let the good work continue”
The U T Fareed Foundation undertakes many social initiatives like this. “Kathalinindha Belakinadege” (From Darkness to Light) was one such initiative wherein 34 houses were provided electricity. The village panchayath has started “Panchayath Adalath” through which the people can avail all the government facilities like (widow pension, Aadhar card, facilities for the differently abled and so on). “Panchayath to your Door” was a unique initiative where the stake holders of the Panchayath visited the houses of the villagers to prevent the latter from running pillar to posts for their rightful benefits.
People have needs and sometimes there is a feeling that these needs can’t be fulfilled. But if a leader has the will and the desire to help others improve their lives, he will always find a way and Rafiq has proved the adage “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” absolutely right. May his tribe increase.
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