Community Participation

By Safer Future Youth Development Project Posted on Sat 31 Jul 2010, over 14 years ago

Hi, this seems like a worthwhile project. We were just wondering, with regards to the budget, why are there different levels of pay grade for the field workers? Also, does the project take into account gender and cast equality when implementing the project, such as training the women or illiterate members of the community?

From experience with implementing pump projects, training illiterate people within the community can often instill a great sense of worth for those who lack education.

Kind Regards,

Idriss

Community Participation

By Project Well Posted on Mon 02 Aug 2010, over 14 years ago

Hi Idriss, the service fee structure is based on the qualification, experience and the responsibilities each field worker is given. With the expansion of the project to other areas responsibilities of site selection, holding meetings with the government bodies and villagers and schools, construction work, monthly inspection of the new wells and sudden visits to the old wells for maintenance, and training is continuous. The more the villagers are visited and drilling of information about not using the arsenic contaminated well (apparently tubewell water tastes much better than piped or chlorinated water) and practice of proper personal hygiene the overall health uplift of the communities is possible.

You are right about involving people from the community. The paid field workers are all selected from the villages where dugwells are implemented except the awareness program manager and the project manager. And training is given to the person in the community who shows interest, common sense and has sense of responsibility. Today received the news over phone that the newly constructed wells in the new areas are working very well and people are eager to know more about the chlorination and they would take the responsibility of administering them. We are planning to have the bottled disinfectant being sold like shampoo and toothpaste from stores. The more number of bore-dugwells or borewells are constructed I think people will learn from their neighbors just like farmers learn about the farming practices from the local farmers meetings or from the media.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience on this exchange.
Meera

Chlorination

By Aqua Clara International Posted on Tue 03 Aug 2010, over 14 years ago

Hi Meera,

This is a really interesting project. I like the community involvement and the donation of land. My question is about the chlorination of the wells. The proposal mentions that there are some problems getting the CBGs to purchase the chlorine. What are your reasons for encouraging chlorinating the source as opposed to point of use water treatment?

Best wishes,
Claire
Aqua Clara International

Chlorination

By Project Well Posted on Wed 04 Aug 2010, over 14 years ago

Hi Claire,

You will not believe this. There are some communities who request the visiting field worker, who delivers the chlorine based theoline, not to apply the disinfectant because of the odor. Now we are taking a stand that a written letter will be given to each community stating that if anybody falls sick due to avoiding the application of theoline then the implementer will not be blamed. We do not encourage drinking the dugwell water without chlorination. Hence we do not believe that individual family would chlorinate their own water at the point of use until the concept of the importance of bacteria free water is instilled in them. Repeated village meetings and awareness programs are ongoing including in schools. Our man power is small since we started from scratch as a pilot program hence the awareness programs are going a bit slow but we are determined to increase its pace.
Thank you
Meera

Re: Chlorination

By Blue Planet Network Posted on Thu 19 Aug 2010, over 14 years ago

I think Claire and others are advocating other point-of-use filters. Point-of-use chlorination is not a good idea.

BSF is an obvious choice, esp. since i feel that the matka filters to remove iron can easily be adapted to create the sand layers.

Here is info on Anil Laul's design of the common man's traditional filter.
It was proposed at the world water forum.

Re: Chlorination

By Project Well Posted on Thu 19 Aug 2010, over 14 years ago

Thanks Rajesh for the info of BSF. We will look into this system and may try a few pilot tests.
Meera