PANCHAYATI SWARAJ
Second Freedom; when my village becomes self-responsible
4 HEALTH
The village must ensure that its citizens have fitness levels that compare reasonably with those of the best of amateur sportsmen competing at the state or national level. These national or state amateurs may overcome common village citizens in skills, but as far as fitness is concerned, there must be little to separate the two groups. There are three kinds of challenges with respect to health, which are enhancement, maintenance and repair. All these functions are important and can be covered by taking up the various dimensions that come under this heading.
The village must take up sports initiatives by becoming sponsors and supporters (for sports, sportsmen and sports Gurus) and also by organizing sporting events. Important village occasions like local temple festivals, anniversaries or common festivals must have sports competitions/displays as part of the proceedings/celebrations. Local facilities must be made available for training and coaching. Time and resources must be specifically diverted so that there will be reasons for the children and youth to practice and excel in some sport or the other all-round the year. Awards and trophies must truly bring honor to those who excel. Those found outstanding must be pushed to represent the village at higher levels of sports and games.
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The village must develop within itself a culture of healthy living. It must undertake activities that will help its citizens attain and maintain themselves in the pinkest of physical and mental health. In a sense, this aspect of freedom will reflect a pro-active approach with respect to illnesses. As it is said, a stitch in time saves nine. If efforts are routinely applied in the direction of monitoring good health and taking pre-emptive measures, it will have two important benefits. It will improve the quality of living, and it will reduce expenses on medicine.
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First, the village needs to ensure hygiene with respect to public places, public utilities, production spaces and other common requirements of society. Second, it should promote better hygiene within families and in individuals. Hygiene standards in spiritual/religious contexts are significantly higher in the Indian context; these must be extended effectively into home spaces, manufacturing spaces and public spaces.
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The village must address both the issues of quantity and quality of nutrition. Initially through promoting the government and NGO schemes and eventually through proper arrangement of employment for every family, a village must ensure that there is no starvation unless by an individual’s own choice. As for quality, all traditional recipes of the village must be preserved. Medical practitioners and sports Gurus besides householders and traditional cooks are good reservoirs of knowledge related to food; they must be patronized. The village must attain the required nutrition status with the help of external support agencies.
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A village should be self-sufficient in meeting its basic healthcare. It must also build a strong connect with specialized facilities that are available at the higher levels of administration. It must ensure that the poor are adequately covered through the various systems of medicine available. The burden of medical expenses must be lightened on the individuals by getting them access to the various facilities and schemes available through the government and the various types of insurance.
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