plan 533Improving Health and Hygiene through Safe Drinking Water & Sanitation

Summary

Western Rajasthan is known for its dry region and scarcity of water food and agriculture is common. People here are not much aware about health and hygiene, as their basic need is even not fulfilled. GRAVIS is continuously working to improve the life of p

Background

The Great Indian Desert – Thar – is an extremely arid region with a low socio-economic status. With an average rainfall of around 100 to 150 mm. (4 to 6 inches), region suffers with acute water shortage and crop failures. Droughts are frequent – hitting the region every second or third year. The region distinguishes by its low and erratic rainfall, high atmosphere aridity, abundant sunshine and heat, strong dust raising winds and sparse vegetation. Agriculture is the strongest base of region’s economy, but it is rain fed and droughts often cause low crop productivity. Due to lack of insufficient water availability, the hygienic statuses of the community are very low, which is giving birth to diseases and illness. Here, people are helpless to do much about it. There financial condition and awareness is also least to think about maintaining hygienic environment.
In Pokaran Block, the condition of women, children and older people are not good. Women and children are the most sufferers due to lack of water and sanitation facility. GRAVIS is working for rain water harvesting and to improve the health status of the thar community. Many implementations were done for water harvesting and to improve the condition of women and children in desert, especially work related to health. Sanitation is an important part of the GRAVIS work. We have constructed many toilets is various other villages and it success can be seen. People are accepting the concept of toilets to make their life healthy and sustainable.
Till date, GRAVIS has constructed 6000 Taankas & 225 Toilets in the western part of desert. The proposed project will provide safe drinking water to the community, and will increase their social, economic and financial status in the community. Constructed toilets will help them to maintain hygienic environment and also help them to keep away themselves from diseases and ailments.

Location

Jodhpur, North-West, India

Attachments

  • PWX_Budg...
  • Toilet_1...
  • Final_Re...
  • Toilet_2...
  • Househol...
  • Village_...
  • 2 participants | show more

    Coverage of Families & convergence of Govt Scheme

    Thomas Palgadhmal of Watershed Organization Trust

    The committee organization, implementation strategy and technology to be used is explained very well in the project proposal. However, the following information is not given in the proposal. - It is mentioned that about 8,000 households will be benefitted through this project. Kindly inform, that these households are from how many ...

    The committee organization, implementation strategy and technology to be used is explained very well in the project proposal.

    However, the following information is not given in the proposal.

    - It is mentioned that about 8,000 households will be benefitted through this project. Kindly inform, that these households are from how many villages and whether it is a single village/multiple villages?

    - It is understood that through the common structure like water harvesting pond entire village will be benefited. However, the activities proposed like construction of toilets, construction of Taaka, Bio-sand filters, solar light system, etc., all these activities are for individual beneficiaries; Very few households (15-20 households) will get benefit out of large no. of households. What are the plans to cover other large no. of households?

    - Improvement of Naadi catchment is proposed under the project. However, since many of such works are undertaken under the govt. scheme; National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) in Rajasthan, is there any possibility of building linkages or convergence with NREGA?

    • GRAVIS Jodhpur of GRAVIS

      Thank you for your question - It is not 8000 household, it is 8000 population/person will be benefited. 4 village community including neighboring villages will also be benefited. - To cover large number of household, Naadi (Village Pond) catchment improvement will be done, to cover the population of entire village. Village pond provide...

      Thank you for your question
      - It is not 8000 household, it is 8000 population/person will be benefited. 4 village community including neighboring villages will also be benefited.
      - To cover large number of household, Naadi (Village Pond) catchment improvement will be done, to cover the population of entire village. Village pond provide harvested water for whole year in normal rainfall, and is the main source of getting water in this area
      - Yes, there will be the convergence in this Naadi Improvement, but here we are talking about catchment improvement. Due to improper catchment area, the water bearing capacity is being reduced which results to downstream without harvesting in Naadi bed. Through construction of Aad (Tiny earthen embankment) , the downstream water will be divert in the Pond and it will increase the water availability

  • 2 participants | show more

    MICRO+MACRO LEVEL SOLUTIONS

    Saurin Shah of Team Blue

    My past association with Peer Water Exchange - Gravis's work has given very insightful view in regards to water needs, issues and solutions possible, for the region Gravis is focusing. Using traditional method of lime and skilled workmanship has resulted in building of Tanka's and renovation of Beri's which would have lifespan far more tha...

    My past association with Peer Water Exchange - Gravis's work has given very insightful view in regards to water needs, issues and solutions possible, for the region Gravis is focusing. Using traditional method of lime and skilled workmanship has resulted in building of Tanka's and renovation of Beri's which would have lifespan far more than techniques used conventionally. Please highlight those aspects with supporting photographs of finished work to add value to this proposal.

    However, as noticed earlier that building of Tanka's and renovation of Beri's is micro solution to larger water problem in the region. And in order to cater to larger population of the region macro solutions needs to identified, specifically researched and proposal put forward; with realistic assessment of cost associated to it.

    In this proposal, I appreciate the addition of Naadi catchment renovation work, which will have much larger impact to the no. of villages it will serve, rather than household. Not to deny that addressing the problems at both level is imperative.

    It would be beneficial to understand the Naadi projects better by showing existing conditions and proposed planning in detail. If available, please share.

    Have we identified total Naadi's that requires renovation and related cost estimation? If yes, please share.

    Do share the means and method to build Earthen Embankment, in order to know its life. How often maintenance will be required and How will it be arranged in future ? Can there be permanent solution to this using traditional techniques?

    Detailed understanding of timeline from start to finish would be helpful.

    • GRAVIS Jodhpur of GRAVIS

      Dear Saurin Ji, Thank you for your comments and questions. We agree that larger solutions are required for water needs, such as naadis. However, smaller household level structures like taankas and beries are critical too since the population is very sparsely scattered in Thar and the naadies are always going to be far from some hamlets...

      Dear Saurin Ji,

      Thank you for your comments and questions. We agree that larger solutions are required for water needs, such as naadis. However, smaller household level structures like taankas and beries are critical too since the population is very sparsely scattered in Thar and the naadies are always going to be far from some hamlets.

      In this project, we are proposing the catchment renovation of 4 naadies. The need is ofcourse much larger but we plan our activities keeping resources possibilities. Through the help of different projects, GRAVIS has till dated renovated over 300 naadies. To understand how the renovation takes place and what kind of time is required, we will be happy to send you one of our studies called "Harvesting the rains in Thar" . The description of that is a little long.

      We very much appreciate your comments.

      GRAVIS

  • 2 participants | show more

    Sanitation and type of toilets

    Rajesh Shah of Peer Water Exchange

    What is the population density and how is it increasing? With the hot days and arid climate, is open defecation a health issue? Open defecation does result in separation of urine and feces which improves decomposition rate. Two reasons to bring up this point: 1. In your experience in building toilets, what is the adoption by men? Toile...

    What is the population density and how is it increasing? With the hot days and arid climate, is open defecation a health issue? Open defecation does result in separation of urine and feces which improves decomposition rate.

    Two reasons to bring up this point:
    1. In your experience in building toilets, what is the adoption by men? Toilets provide much needed privacy to women, but if men do not adopt, the health issue remains unsolved.

    2. What are the type of toilets and how is sewage managed? If pit, what is the long-term maintenance strategy and what is your experience in your past projects?

    3. Finally, what is the type of toilet you are considering? What is appropriate for the region and for the culture?

    4. Your budget for toilet and tank is 17,500. Please share your design and expand - where is the tank? how will it be filled? used? cleaned?

    Thanks and regards,
    Rajesh

    • GRAVIS Jodhpur of GRAVIS

      Dear Rajesh Ji, Thanks for the question. Open defecation is not an health issue during hot days. In rural areas, availability of toilets is not common, but still those who have, they are adopting this as an primary option. Both, men and women use toilets, if it is available nearby there home. Two pit will be dig near the toilet and b...

      Dear Rajesh Ji,

      Thanks for the question. Open defecation is not an health issue during hot days. In rural areas, availability of toilets is not common, but still those who have, they are adopting this as an primary option. Both, men and women use toilets, if it is available nearby there home.

      Two pit will be dig near the toilet and both will be attached to the toilet. One pit pipe will be close till the another one gets filled and in every 4-5 years it will be cleaned and solid waste will be used as a compost.

      We will construct a toilet, which will consume less water. Culturally, people use water after toilet, but we will make them aware about judicial use of water.

      Toilet will be made of traditional raw materials, like Sand stone slabs, Wood stick for roof support, dry shrubs etc. It will have 150 liter capacity of water tank attached with the pipe inside toilet with the tab. Toilet will also have solar light, so that in night they can access the toilet easily. Tank will be filled by the beneficiary, and they will be responsible for the cleaning and maintaining.

      Thanks

      GRAVIS

  • 2 participants | show more

    Water Use efficiency

    Juergen Puetz of PALMYRA

    As per your proposal 20,000 liters capacity / Taanka / family 4-5 members with livestock (20,000 liters / 120 days = 166 liters) 166 lts / day /family 5 persons including livestock will it be sufficient for drinking, bathing, washing, etc. or they use any other resource like Naadi

    As per your proposal 20,000 liters capacity / Taanka / family 4-5 members with livestock (20,000 liters / 120 days = 166 liters) 166 lts / day /family 5 persons including livestock will it be sufficient for drinking, bathing, washing, etc. or they use any other resource like Naadi

    • GRAVIS Jodhpur of GRAVIS

      Thanks for your questions. The water in taankas is stored primarily for drinking and for households chores pertaining cleaning and cooking. Beneficiaries rely on naadi water for bathing and washing. Regards, GRAVIS

      Thanks for your questions. The water in taankas is stored primarily for drinking and for households chores pertaining cleaning and cooking. Beneficiaries rely on naadi water for bathing and washing.

      Regards,

      GRAVIS

    • Juergen Puetz of PALMYRA

      Dear Gravis, Thank You for your reply. Dhanam

      Dear Gravis,

      Thank You for your reply.

      Dhanam

  • 3 participants | show more

    Water and Sanitatiion

    Juergen Puetz of PALMYRA

    Dear Sir, 1. Fresh rain water harvesting structure with traditional concept is good. However will it purify all biological and chemical parameters for safe drinking water. 2. u may include water quality analysis report to ensure the quality of water supply 3. As per the no. of beneficiaries families (1065) under the proposed project, h...

    Dear Sir,
    1. Fresh rain water harvesting structure with traditional concept is good. However will it purify all biological and chemical parameters for safe drinking water.
    2. u may include water quality analysis report to ensure the quality of water supply
    3. As per the no. of beneficiaries families (1065) under the proposed project, how many Taanka will be constructed
    4. The Metrix can be given in diagram for construction of toilets/Taanka /Naadi Vs. time period

    • GRAVIS Jodhpur of GRAVIS

      Dear Juergen Puetz, Thanks for your questions. Our replies are: 1. We have technology in place in the catchment areas to prevent some contamination but it does not provide full purification. Bio sand filters will support that as is in the proposal. 2. We keep doing water quality analysis in our project areas and will do in this p...

      Dear Juergen Puetz,

      Thanks for your questions. Our replies are:

      1. We have technology in place in the catchment areas to prevent some contamination but it does not provide full purification. Bio sand filters will support that as is in the proposal.
      2. We keep doing water quality analysis in our project areas and will do in this project too.
      3. Not all beneficiaries are getting a taanka. We are proposing 15 taankas.
      4. We appreciate your comment on matrix and will see if it can be done that way.

      Regards,

      GRAVIS

    • Varalakshmi VS of Aa Foundation for Community Development

      Dear Gravis The proposal is in very details,explanatory.As you're organisation is 30 year old and have already implemented similar projects. what is the impact?Are people you have to reach in preliminary level? or guiding them to implement such programme on their own is enough?, what is the impact on local governance and assistance to you...

      Dear Gravis
      The proposal is in very details,explanatory.As you're organisation is 30 year old and have already implemented similar projects. what is the impact?Are people you have to reach in preliminary level? or guiding them to implement such programme on their own is enough?, what is the impact on local governance and assistance to you?
      Your bio-filter technology used by the zillapanchyat programme implementation in government school,more than 90% percent is not in usage as the school authorites are not bothers to clean it up frequently, how is this in your earlier programme?

      varalakshmi

    • GRAVIS Jodhpur of GRAVIS

      Dear Varalaxmi Ji, Thank you for your comments. We have implemented similar type of intervention in many villages. Western Rajasthan is very scattered area and our intervention is implemented in the different geographic location. We are continuously working to provide water security to the people living in remote areas. Impact of these ...

      Dear Varalaxmi Ji,

      Thank you for your comments. We have implemented similar type of intervention in many villages. Western Rajasthan is very scattered area and our intervention is implemented in the different geographic location. We are continuously working to provide water security to the people living in remote areas. Impact of these intervention is very holistic and directly gives its positive outcome on Social, Economic, Physical and Financial security. With the proposal we have attached a report of the project with the similar kind of intervention with success stories, which reveals the success of the intervention.
      Taanka is a traditional structure, which we have improved with the modern technology, we promote these techniques, even which was adopted by the government too, and they are also working on the similar structure for the vulnerable groups to increase its capacity.
      Bio-sand filter is still not reached to the area were we have planned to introduce it. GRAVIS approach to implement the activities assures the community participation as a whole. 25-30% of their involvement generate ownership and sustainability of the activity. Village Committees are responsible for its proper maintenance. Other than this initiative, we have done many similar kind of activities in the western Rajasthan, which is very well managing by the Village Committees.

      Thanks

      GRAVIS