The Economy of Permanence: A Quest for a Social Order Based on Non-violence (स्थायी अर्थतन्त्र)

Economy of Permanence
5. Recreations and exercises-Provision of space and equipment for open air
recreations and exercises should be made in every village. Exercises like
Suryanamaskar, asanas, and collective village games should be encouraged and
organized.
Housing: Better and healthier houses are an important item. Village houses are
insanitary, overcrowded and built without any common plan. This has to be
altered under a well-conceived plan which will be drawn up by the village
panchayat in consultation with public health and public works authorities
available near at hand. The following points need emphasis:-

1. Relieving congestion of village houses by providing extension sites for
   buildings under a plan.
2. Future house building to be on a co-operative basis.
3. Improvement of existing houses through educative propaganda.
4. Provision of some kind of drainage for individual houses and for the
   streets. The first is obtained by digging and maintaining soak pits which
   will be periodically cleaned and changed. The second is done through
   simple and cheap drainage system, even if open, which will be periodically
   cleaned and disinfected. Normally drainage water should be used for
   vegetable gardens and fruit trees.
5. Village houses being small and overcrowded, common latrines, bathing and
   washing places should be provided.
6. Immediate levelling up of all stagnant water pools and pits which become
   sources of malarial infection.
7. Laying out and improvement of village paths and roads on planned basis.
8. Model houses suited to village conditions should be made and exhibited by
   Public Health and Public Works Departments.
9. In select places where old village cannot be improved in sanitation and
   health conditions, an attempt should be made in transplanting the village
   www.mkgandhi.org Page 158