Gujarat : Vedancha Village Wins National Award for Grey Water Management Under Swachh Bharat Mission

Gandhinagar | Gujarat — Vedancha, a small village in Banaskantha district of Gujarat, is today becoming a shining example of sanitation and sustainable water management across the country. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this village has created history in the field of grey water management under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural). Vedancha village has been honored with the prestigious CIPS – Center for Innovation in Public Service Award for the year 2024-25.

Uniqueness of the Vedancha Model

Vedancha village has created an innovative model using simple, cheap and effective technology for managing grey water i.e. waste water from kitchens and bathrooms. This project was started in the year 2020-21. When the groundwater level in the village had gone very deep. To solve the water problem of the village and improve cleanliness, Vedancha Gram Panchayat has constructed a grey water treatment unit at a cost of just Rs 5.55 lakh with the technical support of Vasmo and the guidance of Banaskantha District Rural Development Agency.

This unit purifies the waste water from 30 percent of the houses in the village and uses about 200 kilo liters per day – KLD water for agriculture and groundwater recharge. Simple materials like alum, lime and charcoal are used in this process, which keeps the cost low and also makes maintenance easy. In addition, the sale of organic fertilizer produced from the plant earns the gram panchayat an income of Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000 per month, making this model self-sufficient.

A symbol of cleanliness and sustainable development

The success of the Vedancha model is so impressive that it has become an inspiration for villages across the state and the country. This model has not only prevented water wastage, but has also increased the availability of water in the village by conserving groundwater. Apart from this, the level of cleanliness in the village has also improved significantly. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), gram panchayats are provided with a per capita grant for liquid waste management, which is Rs 280 for a population of less than five thousand and Rs 660 for a population of more than five thousand. Using which, other villages can also set up such units.

An inspiration for other villages in the country too

The echo of this achievement of Vedancha village has reached far and wide. Officials, Sarpanches and representatives of educational institutions from other districts are visiting Vedancha village to study the model. According to the village Sarpanch, with the continuous guidance of the District Rural Development Agency, the village has also seen renewed enthusiasm in other aspects of the Swachh Bharat Mission such as door-to-door waste collection and construction of septic tanks.

The Vedancha model shows a new path for rural India. One that simultaneously realizes cleanliness, water conservation and economic self-reliance. The Gujarat government has taken efforts to implement this model across the state. Vedancha village has proven that big changes are possible with small steps, and this model will remain a shining jewel of rural development.