Water Security on the Parched Lands of the Thar

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Summary

Assists the needy rural population in the Thar Desert region, India, in conserving runoff water from the limited rainfalls for a continuous supply of potable water in an exceedingly arid setting. progress reportread updates from the field

How Donors Like You Helped

Thanks to donors like you, a total of $1,755 was raised for this project.

Received $1,755 from 12 donations from people like:

Dipti
Robert
Nevin
(Anon.)

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More Information About this Project

Project Needs and Beneficiaries

GRAVIS works to provide water security to the Thar Desert communities in India. These areas lack water due to scanty rainfalls, interspersed with recurring droughts. GRAVIS seeks support in expanding its activities in two villages where getting potable water is a colossal challenge. The desert communities suffering from a constant threat of drought, deficiency and distress are the beneficiaries.

Activities

If properly conserved, even very meager rain falls can supply water for several months. The main activity will be constructing rain harvesting structures: taankas (underground tanks) and beris (percolation wells) in the heart of the Thar Desert.

Funding Information

Total Funding Received to Date: $1,755

Funding Information

This project is now in implementation and no longer available for funding. Received funds will be used to accomplish concrete objectives as indicated in the project's "Activities" section. Updates will be posted under the "Progress Report" tab as they become available.

Donors' contributions and pledges to this project totaled $1,755.  The original project funding goal was $25,000.

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources

Why this Project is Important

Potential Long Term Impact

Increased water storage capacity with improved and efficient water harvesting practices. 50% reduction in costs incurred on water during droughts. Improved health and hygiene.

Project Message

“Water is the biggest challenge in the Thar. ”
- an old saint of Thar, a saint

Who is Running This Project

Contact

Samantha Chattaraj,
Program Coordinator
3/458 M.M. Colony
Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342008
India
91-291-2741317
Email:

Project Sponsor

Marketplace 2005

Organization

Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti
3/458 M.M. Colony
Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342008
India
91-291-2741317

Learn more about Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti and the project team.



Where this Project is Located

Country

This project is located in India and can also be found under Environment.

For more information about India, read the Human Development Report on India or the Wikipedia entry for India.

When this Project was Updated

Last Updated

This project was last updated on January 09, 2008.

Date Added to GlobalGiving

This project was added to the GlobalGiving project catalog on January 17, 2005.

Latest Update from the Field

2007 Update from GRAVIS

By Katherine Zavala - Coordinator of Programs, January 09, 2008 06:21 PM

GRAVIS has constructed ten taankas (traditional underground water storage tanks), which has directly benefited 15 families, involving 100 to 150 community members. Each taanka can store up to 20,000 litres of water when filled up. This amount satisfies the drinking water needs of an average family of eight to ten members for six to eight months. The taanka's are a great assistance to residents like Channi Devi (read on for story).

Channi Devi’s story:
Channi Devi lives in a small mud hut in a hamlet situated about 1.5 miles north from the Jemla village in Rajasthan, India. She is the mother of 5 sons and 2 daughters. 3 of her sons and 1 daughter are married. However, her married sons do not live with her. It is the scarcity of water that has broken this family apart.

For this family the water requirements have to be met by carrying it on their head everyday from Jemla village. After the pond at Jemla dries out it has to be brought from Shekhasar, which is over 6 miles away. If water is brought on a camel cart, each trip costs $7.40, amounting to $74 to $100 a month, which is difficult for this poor family to pay.

Channi Devi’s husband Puna Ram is 65 years old and it is strenuous for him to work as a laborer. Her 2 sons are laborers but due to limited work in the village the income of the family is very low. Buying water is a heavy burden. Even if they buy water, there is hardly any place to store it. But the need to collect water, and the time it takes each day, is also the reason why the daughters of this family are illiterate. This was why the Village Development Committee, formed with the support of GRAVIS, proposed the family as a stakeholder in taanka construction.

At present, Channi’s taanka stands completed waiting for the monsoon to strike and provide the family with easy access to water, and reduce their financial burden.

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