Village with a difference

This village stands conspicuously different to its surrounding villages. As you enter, you are struck by the cleanliness. Spotless, it has none of the litter or cow dung that has come to be associated with Indian villages. Welcome to Gomla, a path-breaking rural community in Haryana where homes are well-planned and painted with vibrant colours, and the drainage system is on a par with those in cities.

Not only this, Gomla also boasts of its very own public park, a concept unheard of in rural Haryana. Standing in the centre of the park is 46-year old Radhe Shyam, addressing a group of visiting Harvard University students, telling them how the village that was until recently the hub of the liquor mafia turned round its fortunes through sheer hard work. "Before 2005, this village was the base of the liquor mafia. The men of the village were involved in it. There was no development. The literacy rate and sex ratio were abysmal. Homes were nothing more than shanties and water overflowed from all the drains," Radhe Shyam says.

"However, things have changed since 2005," he adds, "The villagers decided they wanted change and began working under the MGNREGA." Gomla's infrastructure and appearance stand testimony to the fact that this shift has worked wonders for it. But sadly, the shackles of patriarchy still retain a pretty tight hold on the minds of the village's residents. The current sarpanch of the village is a woman called Shanti. Radhe Shyam, Shanti's mentor, was briefing the Harvard students on her behalf because women here have to observe purdah, i.e. keep their faces covered, in public.

But things look set to change. To help the villagers complete the half-won battle, students from St. Stephen's college and volunteers from the NGO Anant Vikas have adopted Gomla, and visit the village regularly to counsel its residents. "We talk to them about everything, especially the women," says Hritu Rana, founder trustee and CEO, Anant Vikas. Locals say the efforts have begun to pay off. Women step out of the house, though still veiled, and the sex ratio has improved, in stark contrast to Mahendragarh, the district Gomla is located in. While the former still has fewer girls than boys, Gomla is different. In 2011, the village saw 56 births, of which 28 were boys and 28 girls. In 2012, 20 were boys, and 21 girls. Till July 2013, the village has witnessed four male and seven female births.

The NGO and students are also working on the skill-sets of the villagers. "A computer centre has been set up and women have been provided with sewing machines to help them master embroidery," explains Krishan, a St. Stephen's volunteer. There's more. "Through open theatre, we show them government programmes with social messages. The idea is to help them move beyond dogmatic ways," he adds..

- Daily Mail