If urban folks think they’re nailing life by merely existing in an urban space, working in a posh company, and probably driving an AC car, well, they’re mighty mistaken. On the flip side, here’s a list of Indian villages who have effectively identified the sore points and have done everything in their capacity and beyond to set an example enough for the rest of the country to follow.
Don’t believe us? Here are some exciting facts that will make you book your tickets to visit these hidden gems, ASAP!
1. Dharnai, Bihar – Taming The Sun
We all have heard the environmentalists and nature enthusiasts talk about how it’s high time we shift to the renewable source of energy, or our future generations are in massive trouble. While the government and most of us are busy procrastinating, the 2,400 people of Dharnai village – a small settlement near Bodhgaya in Bihar – became India’s first village to be sustained by green power. All thanks to the Greenpeace Foundation that laid down a 100 KW micro-grid in 2014.
2. Punsari, Gujarat – Tech Savvy AF
We all are always pining for that perfect blend of city amenities but without the humdrum and chaos of the city. Well, Punsari village, a little off of Ahmedabad is that village. An unassuming Sarpanch, the 34-year-old Himanshu Patel, had a vision that he turned into reality for good. Biometric machines, Wi-Fi, air-conditioned schools, self-sustained water purifying and biogas plants – you name it and they have it!
3. Mawlynnong, Meghalaya – OCD Done Right
Ever dreamt of roads so clean you could possibly sleep on it? And then dismissed the thought altogether because how is that ever going to be possible in a country like India? Mawlynnong’s proving the entire country wrong. A small town with about 600 people, this place in North East India’s Meghalaya has flower laden spotless paths, dustbins in every corner, a strict rule banning plastic, volunteers who take turns to clean the street, and effective waste management systems in place. And all this has earned them the title of being the cleanest village in the whole of Asia!
4. Mattur, Karnataka – Rooted
Most of us know of Sanskrit as a language limited for pujas and havans. But imagine being in a place where every passer-by is having every casual conversation in Sanskrit. That’s Mattur’s reality. Yes! You read that right. “Bhavatha nam kim?”, “Katham asti?”, “Coffee va chaayam kim ichchhathi bhavan?” are just some of the everyday statements being thrown around casually. And all this started in 1981 when an organization took a Sanskrit workshop in this village that got the villagers so interested in keeping the language alive, that Sanskrit became its primary language.
5. Piplantri, Rajasthan – Beti Bachao, Greenery Badhao
While India is still struggling with an unstable sex ratio, Piplantri village in Rajasthan has resolved to not only save all its girl children but also preserve its green cover. How? By planting 111 trees every time a girl child is born, and making sure these trees grow just as beautifully as the girls. What more? The panchayat, relentlessly engaged in this work for years now, makes sure these girls get proper education and a right to dignified livelihood.
Featured image: source