Life Around a Forgotten Pond
This story comes from Jura village, of West Champaran district, Bihar. At the center of the village lay an old pond that was once an important part of daily life. Children played around it, women collected water nearby, and people rested under the shade of surrounding trees.
Over time, the pond was neglected. Bushes grew thick around it, garbage accumulated, and the place slowly turned unsafe. Snakes, scorpions, and other poisonous creatures began to live there. Villagers felt fear while passing by. Children stopped playing there, and women avoided the area as much as possible. Everyone knew the problem, but no one knew how to begin fixing it.
A Conversation That Changed the Mindset
When the Goonj team visited the village, a meeting was organised under the Cloth for Work initiative. The discussion focused on health, cleanliness, and collective development. For many villagers, this meeting sparked a new realization that when people come together, long-standing problems can be solved from within the community itself. Slowly, the discussion turned into a decision. The village agreed that the pond could no longer be ignored.
Three Days of Collective Effort
For three continuous days, the village worked as one unit. Some cut bushes, others removed waste, while a few levelled the surrounding paths. Women and men collectively participated in this effort. No one worried about the heat, the sun, or physical tiredness. The shared goal of improving their village kept everyone motivated. To recognise their collective efforts, family kits with essential needs were rewarded to the community members. Empowerment roots in dignity and not in charity.
Community Members Cleaning the Pond in Jura Village
A Visible Change in Just Three Days
After three days of work, the pond looked completely different. What was once a place of fear now appeared clean, open, and safe. The pathways around the pond became usable again, and the space slowly regained its importance in village life.
Planting for the Future
The villagers did not stop at cleaning alone. They understood that without care, the pond could again fall into neglect. To protect and beautify the space, the community planted 85 saplings around the pond. Neem, peepal, guava, and flowering plants were chosen to strengthen the environment and create shade.
Pond Area After Cleaning in Jura Village
A Shared Space, A Shared Belief
Kaushalya Devi, community member, smiles and says,
“Earlier, we thought this kind of work was somebody else’s responsibility. Now we know that if we want, we can also change our village ourselves.”
A Story of Grassroots Innovation and Dignity
The pond revival in Jura village stands as a powerful example of grassroots innovation, where local wisdom, shared labour, and collective responsibility came together. This was not about receiving help, but about taking ownership.
Villagers watering planted saplings around the pond
Be a Part of Change
Our invitation to you is, start from where you are.. From a small change of starting a Goonj kee Gullak or Team 5000, joining a long and deep change process, or things in between- organising a collection drive, a volunteering journey, an internship, or simply walking with us signing for a Goonj monthly newsletter subscription.. More on www.goonj.org or write to [email protected].
Many options, but the choice is always one; Taking Action..
