Marta Vanduzer-Snow, a 35 yrs old young woman who is not an Indian by birth, is surprisingly carrying out development works in India and that too with her own money. There are many people who want to bring changes in the society but only handfuls have the guts to convert their words into deeds and Marta is one of them.
She grew up in Boston and spent nearly 10 years in New York before coming to India in the year 2012.
Let us tell you what Marta has done in Raebareli and Amethi, two villages of Uttar Pradesh, till now:
- Built cost-effective evapotranspiration toilets (82 toilets in homes and 1 for a school)
- Built 10 feet wide and 400 feet long road
- Many other projects to improve the situation of health facilities, education, water, transportation and food supply.
She has done all these works with her own money and what’s more amazing is that she has done it all at a cost which is 1/3rd to what government spends on these types of projects.
Marta, has named her project as “Better Village, Better World”. She is a fan of economist Amartya Sen and his works. When Marta was asked why she chose India, this is what she replied,
“I spent my 20s thinking and working for social change from a desk, as a researcher, and at a policy level. These past few years, working with my hands, seeing what has been made at the end of the day is its own, is an incredibly special reward. The contribution made from a day’s work is clear. I first came to India in 2004 for a book project; it was an honor and tremendous privilege to learn from some of India’s leading minds. Years later, knowing I wanted to develop this idea, I thought India would be the perfect place.”
However, Marta is not in mood to disclose the amount of money that she has spent till now on these projects as she wants to keep that amount to herself. On being asked about her selfless work which has brought a positive change in the lives of 82 families in two villages of UP, she stated,
“We build evapotranspiration toilets, permeable roads and solar power homes and many other projects. We are working on so many projects in the areas of education, health, infrastructure – organic farming, water, food transport. Community libraries, community-run arts and sports programs. Many things.”
You will be surprised to know that the cost of one evapotranspiration toilet is Rs. 9,900 while the cost of one bio-toilet which is being built under PM Modi’s ambitious Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is approx Rs. 20,000.
27 solar power panels along with two street lights and one mobile charger have also been installed by Marta.
Moreover, she is working on the techniques of rainwater harvesting as well. She has also received help from local people and hopes to bring change in other cities of India too.