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The Interventions That Enabled A Long-Term Impact at First Model Village at Medanahalli

As one of the leading FMCG companies in the country, HCCB has made different interventions around its 15 factories under HCCB’s Model Village Initiative program. These include provisions for clean drinking water, hygiene and sanitation facilities, healthcare, education, and means and methods for sustainable agriculture. In Medanahalli, a small village in Ramanagara district, Karnataka, HCCB initially identified the requirements of the 225+ households in the village.

HCCB has always strived to support the communities in the vicinity of its operations and enabled ecosystems through its interventions. As one of the leading FMCG companies in the country, HCCB has made different interventions around its 15 factories under HCCB’s Model Village Initiative program. These include provisions for clean drinking water, hygiene and sanitation facilities, healthcare, education, and means and methods for sustainable agriculture. In Medanahalli, a small village in Ramanagara district, Karnataka, HCCB initially identified the requirements of the 225+ households in the village. 

The first step was to develop infrastructure for clean drinking water. In line with this, a 50,000-litre overhead water tank (OHT) was set up. To do so, HCCB collaborated with the Bidadi Town Municipal Council which provided a direct water connection to all the households in the village. Further, a standalone water purification plant was installed to dispense over 350 cans of purified water daily. This initiative has benefitted over 2,500 individuals.

Several measures were undertaken regarding the sensitization on sustainable agricultural methods including optimum use of water and saving as much as possible for irrigation. The farmers were introduced to the importance of soil-health and value-based food growing methods. Covering about 100 acres of land, 30 farmers were able to improve their yield and income by maintaining soil quality, reducing soil degradation and erosion, saving water, increasing biodiversity, and planting crops that suited the soil conditions like papaya, mud apple, guava, etc. As a result of this, the local farmers have witnessed a gradual increase in their income. 

In the health sector, 25 preventive and curative health camps were organized which led to a significant improvement in the village’s primary healthcare. Timely referrals for serious ailments, improved immunization, and 100 percent institutional deliveries were some of the major wins. In addition to health, comprehensive measures were undertaken for quality education and infrastructure at schools. As a result, it was noticed that the number of students dropping out of schools started to decline.

The interventions made for the community have also benefitted over 1000 women beneficiaries through 51 SHGs through skill and vocational trainings of activities such as papad making, mushroom cultivation, candle making, arecanut plates etc. 

In Karnataka, HCCB has across its interventions worked with the locals in 3 villages helped over 584 households. Additionally, 15 HCCB Model Villages have made a difference across 4500+ households. This would not have been possible if the whole village hadn’t come together in the mission thus reinforcing the company’s faith in the power of community. Today, HCCB stands proud to see how the village community has completely taken over the ownership of all HCCB's initiatives, hence reaffirming that with integration comes sustainability and transformation.


Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the authors' and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this publishing house