Commitment and Leadership for Change

Jogibagar is a village located in Ward No. 5 of Badigad Rural Municipality, Baglung District, which looks beautiful but also have hardships. The village, which is next to Baglung Burtibang road section, has been experiencing severe problems with safe drinking water for years.

Even though Badigad river is flowing nearby the village, the villagers still faced problems with reliable water supply. Despite their efforts to bring clean water to their village, they could not achieve the results as expected. The situation of the villagers did not change, though there have been changes in policies, leaders and political systems in the country.

Mukta Bahadur Gharti, a member of the Jogibagar Bhakbhake Water and Sanitation Users Committee (WSUC) mentioned that after the completion of a detailed survey by Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH) in Shrawan 2079, there was some hope in the area, but there was no certainty. In 2080/81, after getting the news that the project was approved in partnership of Badigad Rural Municipality and NEWAH, all the consumers were overjoyed.

After the tripartite agreement among WSUC, Badigad RM and NEWAH, the project was started with an amount equal to 49 lakh 69 thousand. The project was approved, but there were only few leaders who could lead the project in the village. Many assumed that the project will not be built due to lack of leadership, then Maya Acharya showed her willingness to lead the project.

Under the leadership of Maya, the Jogibagar Bhakbhake water and sanitation users committee was formed and the construction work started from Shrawan 2080. Maya faced many challenges while working, however she fulfilled her responsibilities to actively engage WSUC in completion of the project. Currently, 513 people have benefited from the project, including 68 houses, 1 school and 1 health post. Maya says, “She fulfilled her commitment towards the community and responsibility to complete the project as smooth as possible.”

In most places of Nepal, the caste discrimination is still prevalent in the rural areas and so is it in Jogibagar village. In the Jogibagar WASH project, 37 out of 68 houses belonged to the Dalit community. Sunita Pariyar, Treasurer of Jogiwagar Bhakbhake WSUC, expresses that the community has been suffering from the problem of drinking water for a long time and now equal access to water in every household has brought the happiness among Dalit community people too.

With the end of the problems of the past and the reliable access to safe water within the house premises, the community people as well as WSUC including Maya's heart has been filled with happiness. Maya played an important role in implementing ‘one house one tap’ policy as well as declaring her community a ‘clean and hygienic community’. Maya has become an exemplary character that anyone can handle leadership if they have their visions and dreams and have commitment to work upon them.