At 16, This Girl Has Taken up the Mission of Making Her Village Open Defecation Free

Rohini Karale has already helped over 15 families in the village build toilets in the past one year.

At 16, This Girl Has Taken up the Mission of Making Her Village Open Defecation Free

A year ago, the small hamlet named Nandgaon near Karjat in Maharashtra had over 100 houses and not a single toilet. The villagers would defecate in the open areas adjacent to a forest near the village.

Thanks to a 16-year-old girl, Rohini Karale, over 15 families in the village have built toilets in the past one year and more are convinced that they need one.

rohini

Photo Source: Facebook

According to a report by Firstpost, Rohini has taken up the mission to make her village open defecation free and is working relentlessly towards her goal.

Since her childhood, Rohini saw that no family in her village had a toilet in their house. She, too, was used to the practice as everyone would do the same. However, when Rohini started menstruating, she realised that she couldn’t live in a village that didn’t have toilets.

“As I grew up to be a woman, things changed for me. It was very embarrassing and also petrifying to just relieve myself out in the open. I had to wait for the sun to go down to relieve myself. And the most difficult days were during my menstruation because those days required extra care and hygiene unlike the regular days. But now with a toilet within my house, it has actually made a drastic change not just for me but with this we have been actually advocating the importance of hygiene and sanitation to our fellow villagers,” says Rohini.

She convinced her grandfather, who was the sarpanch of the village not only to build a toilet in their house but also to spread awareness among the villagers about the hazards of open defecation.


Also read: TBI Blogs: Dear PM Modi, Want India to Go Open Defecation Free? Then Let’s Build Well-Designed Toilets!


“I requested my grandfather to take up the issue in public since he was the Sarpanch at that point of time. Speaking about the issue in a public forum helped others to take cognizance of the problems faced by teenage girls and women in my village,” Rohini told Firstpost.

With the help of the NGO Habitat for Humanity India, the Karale family built a toilet in their house. Now, after a year since the inception of her mission, 15 families in the village have built toilets. More toilets are being constructed in Nandgaon with the help of government schemes and NGOs. Around 30 per cent of the villagers now utilise toilet facilities rather than defecating in the open.

To know more about the NGO Habitat for Humanity India, visit its official website here.

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!

We bring stories straight from the heart of India, to inspire millions and create a wave of impact. Our positive movement is growing bigger everyday, and we would love for you to join it.

Please contribute whatever you can, every little penny helps our team in bringing you more stories that support dreams and spread hope.