vds revived in seri bada tanda

Seri Bada Tanda is one of four villages in Phase 2 area of Chincholi Taluk in Gulbarga District. It is a small village of Lambani tribesmen with around 100 households. It is located to the left of Kodli-Rammangud road, four kms from Kodli village. Phase 2 implementation was planned around the development of the Village Development Society (VDS), a people's institution that is established to look after the holistic development of the village. MYRADA has been entrusted with the responsibility of promoting development and capacity building of the VDSs in the four project villages.

The VDS in Seri Bada Tanda was set up on March 3, 2000, - one of the first to start functioning. This village hamlet had a serious shortage of drinking water. Although, a drinking water facility was set up by the Zilla Parishad, but it did not work on time, supply was erratic and not in required quantities. The women used to walk almost three kms to fetch water for their needs. The VDS decided to develop three sunken ponds to solve the water problem of the community. The sites were identified and located in the close vicinity of the village. Two of the sunken ponds were completed successfully. The villagers were happy that the problem had been solved at least in part.

Trouble started in the VDS during the execution of the third pond. During a routine control and monitoring exercise, it was discovered that there was misuse of funds to the tune of Rs. 3800. The members of the Governing Council (GC) did not solve the problem. The VDS president did not pursue the matter either, and the VDS virtually stopped functioning. The field functionaries of MYRADA did everything they could to put the project back on track but the VDS became defunct. MYRADA strategically decided to stay out of the village for a brief period while maintaining informal contact with the people.

The people of Seri B frequently visit Kodli village and were impressed with the developments carried out by MYRADA through the VDS. They felt that such developments were needed in their village too. Two brothers from Seri B saw the roof water harvest structures in Kodli and were keen on installing such units at their homes. This was not possible without an active VDS in the village so they approached MYRADA for assistance. The NGO functionaries saw an opportunity to break the ice in the village.

MYRADA arranged for disbursement and supervision of the structures through the VDS in Kodli. Two roof water harvest structures came up for the first time in the village and this development drew the attention of the villagers. The water situation was so grave that even a little water saved was of great value for the villagers. The project office decided to handle the village as a team. They visited the village several times, maintaining direct contact with the people. People's response and participation increased at an overwhelming pace.

MYRADA has recorded a very positive response to the all recent meetings called in the village. A group of 50 villagers came to the MYRADA office in Kodli for formal training on the concept of VDS. They also went to Kanchnal village to learn the functioning of their VDS. In a meeting held at the village on February 20, 2002, the villagers decided to form a new Governing Council. The VDS elected nine new members and only two of the previous GC have been retained in the new body.