Many people often complain that cities in India are dirty. Even foreigners sometimes compare India to other countries and say it is not clean. Streets piled with garbage, open drains and littered public spaces are often shown as examples of this problem.
But now, a video is drawing attention for showing something very different. Instead of messy streets, it shows a village where cleanliness and discipline are taken seriously, challenging the common perception about Indian villages.
A Village That Sets An Example
The video begins with a woman exploring the village. She starts by saying, “The next time someone says, ‘Indian villages are dirty,’ get them to this village.” A local woman behind her greets her with a proud, “Namaste.”
She explains that
the village has spotless streets, with children helping to collect trash every evening. Villagers take turns cleaning the entire area. There are no open drains, no garbage piles, just a sense of pride and discipline. Hot water is available for free through a common solar heater. Drinking water comes from an RO water ATM card system, and every home has a tap with a meter, so people pay only for what they use. Streetlights run on solar power and turn on automatically at night.
Furthermore, swearing in public costs Rs 500. The village has a hangout spot for senior citizens to relax, watch TV and chat, as well as a small library for children. Rainwater harvesting, composting, and not a single open toilet can be seen. Even cattle sheds are odour-free.
Every structure and facility was built collectively by the community through money, labour and time. Women are not just respected, they lead in every work or planning for the village. Many of the women working as safari guides in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve come from this village.
It took one man, Gajanan, five years to plan everything and convince everyone to live this way. This is Satara Village in Maharashtra, near Tadoba National Park.
The Instagram post caption reads, “Had only heard about how incredible villages in Maharashtra are. Finally witnessed one. And all of this is because of one power house Gajanan. What a legend!!”
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Here’s How Social Media Reacted
Shared on November 16, the video has over 10.6 million views and numerous comments. A user wrote, “This is SO cool. Amazing things happen when people care.”
Another said, “This is amazing! A model village for rest to follow suit. How incredibly inspiring. Thank you for sharing this, and so beautifully. I would love to visit this village someday.”
Others added, “India is so beautiful and it hurts my heart to see all the negative videos about it lately :(,” and “Thanks for showcasing clean, organised, and inspiring villages that will surely boost tourism.”
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