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Saurashtra
In the parched region of Saurashtra, Gujarat, the Saurashtra Lok
Manch, a voluntary organisation, has recharged more than 300,000 wells
and tubewells. The organisation has been trying to create water literacy
among the masses and motivate them to actively take up recharging
of wells. Recharging wells is easy, inexpensive and requires very
simple technology. Water from a nearby rivulet or drain is led through
a plastic pipe to a pit, where it gets filtered through layers of
sand powder, uncrushed sand and crushed stone. A pipe then takes the
water to the well.
Lined
Ponds
Scarcity of water makes the life of women in rural India particularly
problematic. They have to walk several kilometres to fetch a bucket
of water. Utthan, a voluntary agency in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is mobilising
women to tackle drinking water shortages and land salinity in Ahmedabad
and Bhavnagar districts. It has constructed 21 lined ponds with the
active participation of village communities. More than 300 families
have taken part in building rooftop water harvesting structures. The
organisation's greatest success lies in mobilising women in the face
of traditional resentment against their taking part in community efforts.
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