As the interior of Maharashtra grapples with intensifying heat waves, bringing increased challenges to already water-stressed regions, a source of much-needed sustenance emerges for 12 villages in the state in the form of vital hand pumps. Project Rise, the philanthropic arm of the Dawoodi Bohra community, collaborated with the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) to install handpumps in 12 water-stressed villages in Maharashtra, which are home to 800 families and approximately 4,500 people. This initiative is part of a broader effort spanning four states – Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan – where a total of 40 hand pumps are bringing relief to local communities experiencing water scarcity.
“Previously, our women had to endure arduous journeys of 1.5 km, carrying heavy pots on their heads just to fetch water from the well,” shared Bahu Bansi Ugle, Sarpanch of the Pandar village near Nashik. “Now, following the installation of handpumps, at least 70 to 80 families in our village have been freed from this daily struggle. What was once a long and tiring trek for water, especially for women, is now conveniently available in our village. We’re grateful to the Dawoodi Bohra community for providing their support to parched villages like ours in the region."
The benefits of this water security project are reaching schools as well. In Purushwadi village of Akole, hand pumps are now serving both local families and the nearby school, ensuring access to clean drinking water for students and teachers alike. Resident Sonaji Tulshiram Kondhar shared, “Earlier, the daily struggle for water was immense. This hand pump has brought great relief, especially now with the heat intensifying.”
Prashant Kolaskar, manager of the project in these 12 villages said, “This water security project’s success is rooted in community engagement and meticulous planning. Local families and Gram Panchayats have been actively involved in field surveys, groundwater assessment and site selection, ensuring a sense of ownership and sustainability. Our people have also been trained in basic hand pump maintenance and the importance of keeping it running.”
Ammar Miyaji, a Project Rise volunteer from the Dawoodi Bohra community in Nashik who was involved in the project, witnessed the change firsthand in Shindewadi, near Sangamner. “We had initial meetings with the locals to understand their problems and measure the water table level. We realised that a hand pump in the village, near their homes, will not only provide them relief but also provide dignity to their women who used to walk for quite a distance to fill water.
He added, “Also due to the frequent power cuts in the village, the hand pumps are the most sustainable option for the families.”
With increasing heat waves in the region, with the temperature touching 40 degrees a couple of days ago, the provision of accessible clean water builds a vital foundation for the health and well-being of local families during these challenging conditions.
