Safe drinking water is a fundamental necessity for survival. Yet, even in today's world, many marginalized communities still lack access to this vital resource.
Over the course of an 18-month project, from January 2022 to June 2023, a total of 1,170,000 sachets were distributed, providing 11,700,000 liters of safe drinking water.
The "CAF/Sahara CFRCAR Safe Drinking Water Project" has had a significant impact on the lives of 2,400 families (10,000 beneficiaries) during this reporting period. Clients and their families from various slum communities directly benefited from the program, experiencing notable improvements in both health and socio-economic conditions. Community members who observed the health improvements among product users in their area also requested access to safe water sachets.
Most members of the project communities are migrant laborers or families from neighboring villages or districts. Many of the beneficiaries in Wagholi are HIV-positive (PLHIV), including expectant mothers and a significant number from Key Populations (KP). Demonstrations, education, and awareness sessions, along with the distribution of safe-water supplies, are primarily conducted in the evening and often extend until 7:30 pm.
Follow-up visits have revealed a reduction in water-related illnesses, such as diarrhea.
Challenges:
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High Demand: There is a continued and vocal demand from community members for enrollment and access to clean drinking water supplies.
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Crowd Control: Managing distribution has become challenging, with fights and arguments breaking out during the process.
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Access Issues: Previous beneficiaries who were part of the Safe Water Project and later gained access to safe water from the Steria/Planet Water filtration plant now face a significant problem. The water table has dried up, forcing them to revert to drinking unsafe water. Efforts by the Panchayat (Village Council) and Corporation staff to encourage the community to pool resources and contribute funds to purchase tanker water for the filtration plant have been unsuccessful so far.