NRI doc’s home remedy: reducing filth the clean way

Saturday, 25/05/2013

http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

CHANDIGARH: Without paying bribe and using only grassroots empowerment, a retired NRI doctor has improved sanitation in 16 villages of Punjab, reducing diarrhoeal diseases resulting from filth.

Dr Gurdev Singh Gill, based in Canada but hailing from Kharoudi village in Hoshiarpur district, was at the Chandigarh Press Club on Friday to present a short film on the transformation of Bahrampur, Langeri, Jandiala and Deingrein villages in the state.

The Indo-Canadian Friendship Society of British Columbia, Canada, of which Dr Gill is president; and IndoCanada Village Improvement Trust, Chandigarh, a non-government organisation partner, organised the screening. Scot Slessor, Canadian consul general, presented the slides.

On since 1999, Dr Gill’s comprehensive development project in Kharoudi village has brought clean drinking water to villagers, improved underground sewerage, paved streets with concrete, treated wastewater, installed solar streetlights and prevented water accumulation on streets. His NGO and the state government together support the project. “From 50% initially, the Punjab government has increased its burden of the expense to 75%,” he said.

The film screening was meant to create awareness about the eco-friendly sustainable village projects, said the doctor. “Our concept is revolutionary, simple and affordable. It’s the pyramid approach that makes villagers stakeholders without interference from bureaucracy,” he added.

The system ensures transparency. The average cost of the new projects is R35,000 for each household. “If this money is borrowed at 5% (from international financial institutions) and amortised over 25 years, the monthly repayment per household will be almost R200, only slightly more than the money the families pay for domestic drinking-water supply that is unclean and irregular,” said Dr Gill.

The doctor lowered the cost of the sanitation projects by eliminating the use of expensive tools.

“The modified sewer system developed in Brazil does away with the use of pumps and lets gravity carry sewage. Also, instead of a common septic tank for every village, there should be one in every household,” he said.

The doctor said many NRIs were eager to spend on the development of their villages. “I have spent almost $4 million ( R22.30 crore), so far, and paid not a penny in bribe. Even without corruption, it is not difficult to improve the plight of Punjab in only 12 years,” said Dr Gill.