The three-year long infrastructure development initiative transitions to the handover phase
IndiaCSR News Network
PUNE: CybageAsha, the philanthropic arm of Cybage Software Pvt. Ltd., today announced that they have completed the infrastructural development of Rajewadi village that was adopted three years ago. The village was handed over to the villagers today at Rajewadi Gram Panchayat in the presence of Deepak Nathani, COO, Cybage & Founder, Trustee, CybageAsha and Rupesh Ganpatrao Raut, Rajewadi Sarpanch. Rajewadi village in Satara district, 50 kms away from Pune, is CybageAsha’s second successful rural development project after Karnawadi village near Bhor.
Under its rural upliftment initiative, CybageAsha focuses on village adoption to improve the quality of rural life by developing village infrastructure, making villages self-reliant, and bringing about socio-economic transformation. Rajewadi is one such village where developmental involvement included various awareness programs, executing infrastructural development projects, and improving the surroundings.
Content while handing back the village to its inhabitants, Mr. Deepak Nathani said, “While we live in metropolitan cities with various amenities, these villages are deprived of even the basic needs of sanitation, hygiene, and health facilities. The conditions that these villagers survive in are unimaginable. Living a healthy and hygienic life is every individual’s right. I am glad that through CybageAsha we are able to make a difference in these villages.” He added, “Rajewadi is a great example of what we could do to develop the village environs and improve the standard of living, given the support from villagers. I am positive that villagers will sustain these projects and hygiene practices in the future too.”
At Rajewadi, after a survey on need analysis, CybageAsha took up projects one by one as per the requirement of the villagers. Villagers contributed 30% to 50% of the amount by way of shramdan (voluntary work). This ensures that the villagers also have the ownership towards all the projects as their share is also invested in the same. Till now, 13 lavatories have been constructed and underground drainage lines have been laid with the help of the villagers. The children and the youth did not have access to books or reading material. CybageAsha stepped in and set up a village library where they donated over 300 books and cupboards. CybageAsha has also actively supported the Zilla Parishad School in partnership with the Rajewadi village Gram Panchyat by constructing a proper kitchen for mid-day meals, cement water tank, school library, and school compound wall. In addition, CybageAsha has conducted many health camps, surveys, cleanliness drives and has educated villagers on maintaining proper sanitation.
“All these years, our men and women were managing without proper toilets and were staying in filthy surroundings, but with CybageAsha’s efforts, we have got a new lease of life. CybageAsha volunteers not only educated us about the importance of hygiene but also provided proper sanitation facilities. They have played a vital role in developing the infrastructure of the village school for the children,” comments Shri Sanjay Tukaram Shedge, Former Sarpanch, who was instrumental in starting this project.
CybageAsha
CybageAsha was established in October 2003 to fulfill Cybage’s responsibility towards constructive development of society. Through its four important initiatives namely, rural upliftment, alcohol de-addiction, social welfare, and go-green, CybageAsha aims at the betterment of the less fortunate. From adopting a village and conducting various infrastructure, educational, and development programs, to providing free medication and counseling facilities to alcohol addicts in slums and creating awareness on environmental issues, the trust has always made its presence felt. Moreover, CybageAsha collaborates with various NGOs and social service organizations to enhance the beneficiary base and spread smiles.
CybageAsha’s Rural Upliftment Initiative
CybageAsha identifies a village that needs aid for betterment and chalks out a broad-level development plan in consultation with the village panchayat. Socio-economic assessment surveys are conducted with the active participation of all the villagers before plan execution. Role-model villages have been developed for other NGOs and village panchayats to emulate.
