By I P Sarto
Burdwan: Some young people of Asansol diocese in West Bengal on April 17 decided to transform their villages.
“I would like to have all facilities in my village for our human life,” said Sundari Hembrum of Nutumgram village.
She was among youth representatives from five villages who met attended sessions for model villages at St Thomas Parish, Ekpere, some 140 km northwest of Kolkata, capital of West Bengal state.
Benjamin Murmu, who represented Ekpere village, wants all people in his village to live healthy and joyful life.
The sessions were facilitated by Holy Cross Sister Christin Joseph from Kolkata. The ideal village should have within reach facilities such as literacy, primary health and hygiene, development, sanitation, environmental protection and basic infrastructure, the nun explained.
Sister Christin urged the participants to address issues such as steps to be taken to transform their villages, collaboration they require, ways to achieve their goal and the deadline to achieve their goal.
Kajol Murmu, a participant, said the sessions made them reflect about their lives and the priorities for their village community development.
Sonali Hembrum, another participant, said the sessions helped them not only dream and plan for our model villages, but decide how to achieve their goals. All made drawings of their model villages during the session.
The youth have decided to make a detailed drawing of their dream village in consultation with other youth in their villages and to have a follow-up after a month to reflect and plan further.