Water Wheel Project Completion Report- Mahindra Rural Housing Finance Limited Project Location-Latur District Project Background: In Maharashtra, only 59.4% households have drinking water facility available within the premises in the state. 19.6% (25.53 lakh) rural households access drinking water from away the premises. The Ground water is also depleting in the state. The women in the rural Maharashtra travel long distances, multiple times a day, in order to gather 15-20 litres of usable water. Given the wide geographical spread and the low water table in various places in the state, it is also not feasible to drill wells in each village. The drought situation in Maharashtra was the worst in more than four decades and affected millions of people across the state. The rainfall had 50% less than the average during the last two monsoon seasons. With failed irrigation systems, people are facing severe water crisis in the region. Almost one-fifth of the state was declared drought-hit and some 12,000 villages across districts such as Solapur, Ahmednagar, Satara, Beed, Nashik, Latur and Nanded was in need of water. One of the biggest challenges for rural women in these areas is to fetch water. They spend hours walking to wells/taps, and carrying water back on their heads. However, all that has been changing gradually in the some villages, with the introduction of water wheels, by Habitat for Humanity India (HFHI) in Maharashtra Region. Keeping this background in view, Habitat for Humanity India (HFHI) with support of Mahindra Rural Housing Finance Limited took the initiative of enhancing the access to water facilities among the poor and marginalised communities in Latur District of Marathwada region of Maharashtra. In this regard, water wheels were provided to the household to procure water. Project Goal To provide 500 families from low-income communities with water wheels in Latur district of Maharashtra in four month to address the issue of safe water availability. Project Objective The specific objectives of the proposed project are; (a)To supply safe and wholesome water to the families (b) To supply water in adequate quantity; and (c) To make water readily available to the target households through water wheels (d) To reduce the burden of women and other family members in fetching water for household use (e) Support 538 rural families with water wheel which will increase the health and hygiene of families with clean and potable water Project Target Group: Community targeted for the distribution of water wheel are 500 rural households in Latur District and mostly belongs from socially and economically marginalised communities. The households are
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Water Wheel Project Completion Report- Mahindra Rural Housing Finance Limited
Project Location-Latur District
Project Background:
In Maharashtra, only 59.4% households have drinking water facility available within the premises in
the state. 19.6% (25.53 lakh) rural households access drinking water from away the premises. The
Ground water is also depleting in the state. The women in the rural Maharashtra travel long
distances, multiple times a day, in order to gather 15-20 litres of usable water. Given the wide
geographical spread and the low water table in various places in the state, it is also not feasible to
drill wells in each village. The drought situation in Maharashtra was the worst in more than four
decades and affected millions of people across the state. The rainfall had 50% less than the average
during the last two monsoon seasons. With failed irrigation systems, people are facing severe water
crisis in the region. Almost one-fifth of the state was declared drought-hit and some 12,000 villages
across districts such as Solapur, Ahmednagar, Satara, Beed, Nashik, Latur and Nanded was in need of
water. One of the biggest challenges for rural women in these areas is to fetch water. They spend
hours walking to wells/taps, and carrying water back on their heads. However, all that has been
changing gradually in the some villages, with the introduction of water wheels, by Habitat for
Humanity India (HFHI) in Maharashtra Region.
Keeping this background in view, Habitat for Humanity India (HFHI) with support of Mahindra Rural
Housing Finance Limited took the initiative of enhancing the access to water facilities among the
poor and marginalised communities in Latur District of Marathwada region of Maharashtra. In this
regard, water wheels were provided to the household to procure water.
Project Goal
To provide 500 families from low-income communities with water wheels in Latur district of
Maharashtra in four month to address the issue of safe water availability.
Project Objective
The specific objectives of the proposed project are;
(a)To supply safe and wholesome water to the families
(b) To supply water in adequate quantity; and
(c) To make water readily available to the target households through water wheels
(d) To reduce the burden of women and other family members in fetching water for household use
(e) Support 538 rural families with water wheel which will increase the health and hygiene of
families with clean and potable water
Project Target Group:
Community targeted for the distribution of water wheel are 500 rural households in Latur District
and mostly belongs from socially and economically marginalised communities. The households are
working as labourer and survive on daily wages. The average yearly income of the families is Rs.50,
000/-. Latur district has been affected by drought since last three year witnessing severe shortage of
water in the region and the household had to travel far to fetch water.
Key Achievements of the project
Project Implementation period; the project was originally proposed for a period of 3 month
(May- August 2016). However, the actual implementation was finished within a period of
two month. The project started in the month of May 2016 and ended in Jun 2016.
Selection of Beneficiaries; initially the proposal was for distributing 500 water wheel in the region. However, looking into the demand and urgency of the water situation in the district, the number of water wheel distributed got exceed to 538. Therefore, 538 families across 13 numbers of villages in Latur District were identified in May 2016. The implementing partner organisation of HFHI was responsible for the selection of beneficiaries for water wheel. The partner conducted a details assessment of the water crisis in the selected villages and identified the beneficiaries. The following criteria were adopted for the selection of beneficiaries; - The family income should <50,000/- - The family should have old age People - The family should belong to socially and economically backward Class - Distance of the household from the water source is more than half kilometre
The following table gives an overview of the village wise distribution of water wheel in Latur District.
Name of the Village Number of Water Wheel
Distributed
Chincholi (B) 30
DAMODAR TANDA 20
Dapkyal 38
Garsoli Tanda 20
Himpalner 30
Janwal 50
Katgaon 38
Manjari 29
Muslewadi 40
Pangaon 80
Pohregoan Tanda 28
Sevanagar Tanda 75
Ujlamb 60
Beneficiaries’ orientation and Distribution of Water wheels; the orientation and the distribution of 538 water wheel took place simultaneously during the month of June, 2016. The event was hosted by the implementing partner NGOs in the district. They along with the HFHI staff used the opportunity to give the community and family some practical guidance to those receiving the Waterwheels on “knowhow of water wheel”, health, and hygiene issues. After the program, Waterwheels were distributed to the families.
Key Issues and challenges faced during the implementation of water wheel project
The support from the community was little less as there was drought and people were busy in earning to sustain their livelihood
The past experience of community with government schemes and programme created a sense of distrust toward the project initially.
Impact:
538 families have access to clean and adequate water Latur District.
538 families have now easy source of carrying 45 litres of water at one given time
The women and girl child of 538 families are now able to save approximately 5 to 6 hours days due to water wheel. Now they are able to give time to village and community activities.
The Girl child of 538 families could devote time on study as they are saving time from fetching water.
Men and teenager boys of 538 families are now feeling encouraged collecting water using water wheel reducing the burden of women in the family.
The project would help in improving the health of women in the long-run.
Demand of using water wheel has increased in the area and nearby villages after witnessing the positive outcome of the project.
Impact Stories:
Ayodhya Balaji Bhople
Ayodhya Balaji Bhople is a 36 years old lady staying at Ujalamb. Surviving on a daily wages and has a
yearly income Rs. 40,000/- Ms. Ayodhya used to spend lot of time fetching water from 1.5
kilometres away due to which she used to face neck and back pain regularly. She says ’Due to
Waterwheel a new chapter has started in my life; It has made water fetching far more easy than
ever. There is a concrete road from which she is able to carry the waterwheel with less effort and
within less amount of time. Her children are also able to help her without sacrificing on study
Story 2:
Mangal Pandurang Nayakwade
Mangal Pandurang Nayakwade is a 35 years old lady staying at Nayakwade. Family survives on daily
wages and the yearly income is less than is Rs. 50,000/-. Daily walk of 2 kilometres in the village to
fetch water was a big stress of her life. Carrying water vessel on head and hip regularly and multiple
times to fulfil the family requirement of water was a tedious work. Because of which she used to
face neck and back pain regularly. After they received the waterwheel fetching water was a kid’s
play. Due to which within less time and less effort it was easy to get the required amount of water
was easy. With water wheel there is no more neck and back problem.
Story 3:
Chhaya Achyut Kadam
Chhaya Achyut Kadam is a 45 years old lady staying at Janwal. Family survives on daily wages and the
yearly income is less than is Rs. 60,000/-. In a family of 4 adults the requirement of water is water is
also huge. Trying to fulfil such a requirement was difficult for a single person in the family. But
dedicating time for fetching water was not feasible as kids use to get late or miss on their study and
schooling and parent and elder son had to focus on work. After they received the waterwheel, less
time and effort is required to fetch water. Everyone within the family was happy and filled with joy.
Kids now are able to attend school and focus on their study as well as they were able to help in
fetching the water.
Water Wheel Project Beneficiary list: Latur District
