Change is not something that happens automatically. Our collective effort is what acts as a catalyst in the process of change, said Sharda Devi, President of Samagra Jal Vikas Samiti of Pipra. Earlier, women of this village had to walk 2 to 3 kilometers to collect water, spending most of their time in this pursuit. The situation is vastly different now.

While appreciating the efforts made through the article

The Nirmal Gram Puraskar was launched by Government of India in the year 2002 with the objective to promote rural sanitation, especially to eliminate the practice of open defecation and to reward PRIs ( Panchayat Raj Institution)Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, Zilla Panchayat), individuals and institutions for their sustained efforts towards achieving it.

A small village called Thangammalpuram, in Vilathikulam Block, Tutucorin District received a national award recently from the President of India, Pratibha Patil, for attaining full sanitation coverage in households, schools, Angawadis, etc., and for outstanding contribution in the promotion of rural sanitation for the year 2008.