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When dedicAtion beAts

       experience


       What Namrata Tomar lacked in experience, she made up for with
       her passion and dedication in pursuing the Swachh Bharat Mission’s
       objectives in Saharanpur






              I was
         overwhelmed
         by the applause
         and appreciation
         I received from
         senior officials for
         my efforts.”
         Namrata Tomar,
         prerak, Saharanpur,
         Uttar Pradesh




        W    ith a bachelor’s degree in social   understand the connection between good
             sciences and a master’s in sustainable   sanitation and good health. Before that, she
            livelihood and governance from the Tata   had to convince the district administration that
       Institute of Social Sciences, Namrata Tomar   she could do the job. At 23, she was considered
       felt she was ready to venture forth as a prerak   too young and inexperienced to stand the
       under the Zila Swachh Bharat Prerak (ZSBP)   grind. However, once she began conducting
       programme. She was deployed to Saharanpur   regular trainings of the swachhagrahis, masons
       in April 2017.                        and women’s self-help groups (SHGs), her
           Saharanpur is one of the more prosperous   colleagues began to take her seriously.
       regions in Uttar Pradesh. Fertile lands,   With their whole-hearted support,
       abundant water, and a thriving wood export   Namrata and her Swachh Bharat Mission
       industry have all contributed to the affluence of   (SBM) team chose students to deliver their
       farmers and factory owners in the area. Despite   message. The students were initially taught
       this, there was a singular lack of awareness   about the importance of good sanitation
       about sanitation and personal hygiene.   practices and the positive effects on their
           Namrata’s first task was to make people   health. The added motivation was the applause


    6  TATA WATER MISSION - A Tata Trusts Initiative
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