- The main village Ghotewadi consists of three hamlets; Valhewadi, Lamkhade and Tambade hamlets (vasti).
- This area comes under the drought prone zone and receives an average rainfall of 400-500 mm which is irregular and erratic. As a result the area suffers from water scarcity chronically or frequently.
- Often from March to June/July, the women and young girls have to struggle for 3-4 hours each day just to fetch drinking water for household consumption.
- In order to solve the drinking water problem, last year (2010) under the "Bharat Nirman' drinking water supply scheme has been implemented by the Gram Panchayat (local council) through government funds.
- Under this scheme, the assured water source was identified near the minor irrigation tank at the distance of 3 k.m. from Ghotewadi main village, and the drinking water has been lifted and transported through underground pipeline of 3,000 meters in length, to the main village. This has been stored in the newly constructed water storage tank of 40,000 liters capacity.
- From this tank the drinking water is provided to all households except two small hamlets Lamkhade vasti and Tambade vasti. Lamkhede vasti and Tambade vasti were not included in the Govt. scheme due to the far distance from the main water storage tank.The Valhewadi hamlet has about 50 households also does not receive sufficient water due to the long distance and non availability of sub- water storage tank.
- Therefore, there has been a great demand from the women members of the SHGs from this area to extend the distribution pipeline to their hamlets with a view to overcome the drinking water problem. The village community has decided to solve the drinking water problem though their initiative rather than depending on the government.
- The villagers have planned to consturct a new water storage tank of 20,000 liters capacity at the central place at Valhewadi hamlet for extension of the existing drinking water scheme to these two hamlets.

The proposed activities that would be undertaken for the extension of the drinking water scheme are -

• Construction of water storage tank of capacity 20,000 liters in Valhewadi hamlet
• Branch pipeline of PVC pipes in the hamlets.
• Installation of electric pump and repairs of existing pump house.
• Construction of five stand postsfor water distribution
• Provision of drinking water to the school
• Training to Water Committee and village community

- It is proposed to promote and implement a cost effective and community managed drinking water project, which would benefit the deprived and vulnerable community from Lamkhade and Tambade hamlets.
- It is planned to construct new water storage tank of 20,000 liters capacity at the centre place of Valhewadi hamlet.
- The drinking water distribution extension pipeline will be completed of 1708 meters, from the newly constructed water storage tank to the Lamkhade and Tambade hamlets. The water will be distributed through the newly constructed stand posts.
- There is an existing old water source well and underground pipeline of 600 meters in length, from which the drinking water was provided to the Valhewadi hamlet. However, after the implementation of the Govt. drinking water project, the old system is not being used. Therefore, it is planned that the electric pump of 3 HP will be installed on the existing well and the water will be stored in the newly constructed water storage tank. This source will be used as additional source of water during the scarcity period.
- A separate tap connection will be provided to the primary school of Valhewadi as they could have access to water for drinking as well as for the toilet and school gardening purpose.
- The main concern and issue of water and sanitation is very much related to women as they are the ones who have to face the brunt. Majority of the women from this village are organized in the SHGs. The federated apex body of the SHGs has been formed called SMS. The SMS has taken pro-active role in the initiation of the planning. The SHGs play an important role in the social developmental activities, especially they will be actively involved in water and sanitation activities.
- The proposed drinking water project would be implemented through the Women’s Water Committee. The women’s water committee has been formed involving 7 women members. The Women’s Water Committee will be responsible for implementation, supervision, quality control and monitoring of activities with the support of village development committee and NGO-namely GARD (Grassroot Action for Reconstruction and Development) staff.
- The funds would be released directly to the Water Committee's bank account. The committee would handle the transaction and would be responsible for maintenance of accounts. The technical and social mobilization support would be provided by GARD (a partner NGO of WOTR)
- Besides these, two specialized trainings would be conducted for the Women’s Water Committee and Village Development Committee in which the topics such as management of drinking water and sanitation project, health and hygiene issues and post drinking water project management would be covered.
- After the successful completion of the project, the Gram Panchayat with the support of the Water Committee would be responsible for the distribution of water, collection of water tax and also repairs and maintenance of the project.

The project would be completed in one phase within 2-3 installments. After the monitoring of the first installment; the next installment of funds would be released. The monitoring would be conducted by WOTR’s Regional Resource Centre or directly by the

- The entire village community has been organized through various community based organizations, such as VWC, SHGs, SMS, youth groups, farmers group etc.
- All the members of SHGs, SMS, VDC regularly conduct meetings and keep the proceedings of the meetings. In the VWC meetings, discussion is held on planning and execution of the watershed development activities, village level issues and village developmental activities.
- Majority of the women are members in the SHGs. There are in all 18 women SHGs involving 302 members. In the SHGs and SMS meetings, they discuss about the savings and internal lending, women’s issues, village developmental issues etc.
- Generally every month they conduct Gram Sabha (general meeting) and all the village level issues, progress of the watershed works, social discipline related issues such as ban on free grazing, ban on felling of trees, voluntary labour (free labour to be contributed equal to 20-25% of the total labour cost of the watershed works) etc. are discussed.
- All the expenditure that has been incurred is approved in the General meeting by the community. Thus transparency and accountability is maintained and the ownership of the project is being developed among the community.
- During the period of one year of capacity building phase, WOTR has conducted various trainings and exposure visits for the different CBOs as well as community. During the main phase of implementation of watershed WOTR is involved in monitoring of the project and conducting various training.
- In the initial stage, the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) was conducted in the village to understand the local situation and to collect the basic data of the village such as no. of households, population, their locations, infrastructure and facilities available in the village. This helped to plan and design the extension and renovation of the drinking water project.
- The women in the SHGs have taken initiative to solve the drinking water problem. The initial planning of the project would be done through the PRA by the village community. The technical plan and estimates are prepared by GARD staff. As per the WOTR’s norms, the village community has to agree to contribute minimum 20% of the total cost either in cash or in kind and accordingly the village community has agreed to contribute 20% of the total cost. The ‘No Objection’ certificate from the local group Gram Panchayat i.e. Ghotewadi has been obtained by the village community for the rennovation of the existing drinking water scheme.

The local Gram Panchayat is willing to give all the necessary cooperation and support to implement this project. The Gram Panchayat has given the permission to repair and extension to the existing drinking water supply scheme which is owned by the Gram Panchayat.

Integrated watershed development programme is under implementation. This project will be completed by end of 2013.

The drinking water project is owned by the Gram Panchayat and is responsible for the repairs and maintenance of the project.