Well works wonders

Thimmasandra, a village in Kolar district of Karnataka, is home to a community of farmers engaged in growing mangoes and tomatoes apart from sheep rearing and milk production. The village housed a well that had been used by generations. However, after being left unattended for nearly half a century, it soon became a dumping ground for garbage and carcasses of animals which often resulted in a stench. When Team Goonj suggested the community to clean the well under Goonj’s ‘Dignity for Work’ (DFW) initiative, the locals were initially reluctant to undertake the cleaning as they were unsure of the result. However, after a few interactions with the team, when they realized that it was their collective responsibility to preserve their resources, 45 residents came forward to clean and restore the well to its former glory. Today, as a result of the activity, the well can be used to store groundwater. Goonj rewarded their efforts with essential kits consisting of ration, mats and other basic essentials. For the people of J. Thimmasandra, this activity proved to be an eye opener, for it made them understand the importance of a clean and healthy environment and the power of collective action.