of the trainings, I became more confident in my own abilities to interact with
villagers as well as with Block-level officers. I became confident, because I
gained in both information and skills through the trainings. Earlier, I had
many doubts, which I would always keep to myself, thinking about what
other would say if I should ask. However, after joining the trainings, I could
raise any number of doubts without feeling shy or insecure.
In Valote, there are seven hamlets and I attended to the developmental needs
of all the hamlets step by step. The Baudhawadi is the most remote part of
the village. Most of the women living there work as house help or as wage
labourers during the agricultural season. Considering this, I completed the
construction of pathways from the Baudhwadi to other hamlets in the village.
Additionally, I constructed internal tar roads throughout the village. In order
to meet the demand of water supply at village, I began water conservation
activities from the funds in the 12th Finance Commission.
I organised meetings in every hamlet. I personally visited every family and
convinced them of the needs and benefits of sanitation. The villagers on their
part responded to my efforts. We received a prize of Rs. 1,00,000/- through
the Nirmal gram Puraskar. We utilized this amount for the betterment of the
backward hamlets in the village.
Education was an issue on my development agenda for the village. Valote has
a school but it only upto Class VII. The school building is old and the building
is in a delipadated condition. When the weather worsens, the students
have no choice but to study in a building with leaky roofs and poorly
maintained walls.
From the very beginning of my tenure, I struggled with this issue. After trying
many things, I finally found enough land for a school. The property owner
was old and had nobody to look after her so she was paid Rs.15, 000/- by
the Mumbai Mandal of the village. A contractor was given the contract in a
village meeting. With the consent of the gram Panchayat body, we paid him
Rs.1,50,000. However, he acted irresponsibly with the money and abandoned