In Kalakhadi, situated just 15 km away from the bustling block headquarters of Surada, an overhead water tank stood silently, weathered by neglect and time. The village, a part of the Sidhapur Gram Panchayat in the Ganjam district, is home to 160 households that rely on the ageing tank for their drinking and household water needs.

The overhead water tank was constructed in 2007 by the residents, and the Village Development Committee (VDC), in partnership with Gram Vikas, serves as a lifeline for the community. However, over the years, the lack of maintenance and care took its toll, resulting in leakages that the villagers seemingly ignored. The consequences were mounting electricity bills, water wastage, and disruption in the water supply that began to plague the once-thriving community.

The village committee members showed disinterest in addressing problems faced by the residents, which slowly led to issues in the village piling up. The turning point came in 2023 when the village committee underwent a reformation, and new members (mostly youth from the village) became members of the reformed committee.

Subsequently, a three-day leadership development training session in September 2023 in the village infused the villagers with a renewed sense of purpose. With unwavering commitment, the newly reformed committee embarked on a month-long journey of constant follow-ups and meetings, striving to rally the village around a common cause.

Sunita Pradhan, Secretary of the reformed Kalakhadi VDC, says, ” The leadership training organised in the village was a blessing for us. As members of our village committee, we have an essential role within our communities that helps people connect and exchange skills and ideas to enrich each other. As a participant in the leadership training, I learnt that I should mobilise my community to work together to improve and develop our village. It is important to meet fellow residents regularly and ask about their problems. When a leader communicates and interacts, residents reciprocate by paying more attention and cooperating with their leader.”

The persistent efforts of the village committee bore fruit as they successfully mobilised the residents to address the water tank’s issues. Ignoring the leakages was no longer an option, and so they initiated the repairs. Bistun Pradhan, the President of the newly reformed VDC, said that the training helped the committee members bring about a community feeling among the residents. So, every family in the village soon rallied around a common cause – to get the repair work of the overhead water tank started.

The residents agreed to contribute, and the village committee took the rest from the village development fund – ₹14000 spent for two loads of bricks, ₹1500 for a trip of sand, ₹7000 for wages paid to the mason, ₹16000 in labour contribution, ₹7000 for buying the paint and ₹3000 given to the painter as his wages for painting. The total amount spent repairing and finally painting the tank came to ₹48,500.

The once-neglected overhead water tank now undergoes regular checks for damages, ensuring a steady water supply to every household.

The VDC appointed a Village Institution Service Provider (VISP) and a dedicated pump operator to strengthen their commitment to sustainable water management in the village.

Together, they formed a remarkable team, ensuring the ongoing maintenance and efficient management of the piped water supply system.

Kalakhadi now stands as a testament to the transformative power of collective action and leadership, proving that one can breathe life back into a community with determination and cooperation. In addition, the six self-help groups (SHGs) in the village underwent a two-day training session to strengthen their role in the community.