Kendrapara: Ramnagar villagers are cleaning up their village on their own setting óan example in community labour.

As a result, the village pond, which was full of weeds and dirt, is now clean and fresh. Village roads have been cleaned, and the potholes repaired. The weeklong community cleanliness exercise concluded yesterday.

Without waiting for the panchayat raj body and block administration to act, the local people, in a show of unity, decided to take up the initiative to improve the environment and sanitation at the village under the Mahakalpada tehshil in Kendrapara district.

"The idea to keep the village clean was mooted out during a recent meeting convened to create awareness on dengue and malaria. People realised that lack of cleanliness was the root cause of diseases. They resolved to work together to turn the village into a healthy and hospitable place," said Ramnagar sarpanch Sipra Mandal.

"The local block development and panchayat offices had come forward to assist the villagers in the clean-up drive. However, the villagers, which included groups of homemakers, were not willing to take help," said Mahakalpada block development officer Prasant Rout.

"We realised that the village environment had turned unhealthy. There was garbage and waste littered all around. The village pond was not in good shape. The water had become contaminated. It was replete with weeds and shrubs," said local resident Goutam Das. Though panchayat body used to carry out periodic sanitation work, the villagers were not in the habit of keeping the village clean. Garbage was dumped by the roadside. However, the villagers realised the pollution was causing diseases.

"Initially some of the people were hesitant to get involved in the community work. Only a few turned up when the drive was launched. But, after a couple of days, every household took part in the drive. Later, women took the centre-stage spearheading the cleanliness initiative," said homemaker Satyabhama Behera.