Mukundpada
November 2020
Palghar
Households: 100
People: 500
Intervention
Integrated Village Development
Lives Impacted
0
Homes Illuminated
0
Donor
Rotary Club of Bombay and Frashogar Charities
Grassroot Partner
Diganta Swaraj Foundation
Assessment
Ghodipada is a remote village in Berista, Mokhada, Palghar with 70 houses and approximately 400 villagers. It is situated on the banks of the River Wagh but faces water and power issues. Mukundpada, a twin hamlet that grew as an extension of Ghodipada, is even more remote and totally disconnected as one has to cross a river from Ghodipada to get there. With 13 homes and a population of 100, they would have remained neglected, hence, the need to support the 2 villages together. The Rotary Club of Bombay along with Chirag Rural Development Foundation embarked upon a project to bring about sustainable and integrated development in these two villages to address their challenges. Poorly electrified, they faced 10-12 hours load shedding and had almost no power through the monsoons. Villagers and cattle used the same water source, the River Wagh, and the villagers would dig pits near the source, waiting for the water to rise up, and skimming the top layer for clean water.
Intervention
Once the project support was approved the technical team did a detailed survey to see how best the village could achieve access to a continuous and convenient supply of water as well as light. It was decided to use solar mini grids to power 3 water pumps of 2.5 HP – one in the river closer to Ghodipada for water for agriculture and domestic use, another in a well in Ghodipada to pull water up to a tank that will then provide water through a filter to ensure villagers have the convenience of safe drinking water; the third pump in the river closer to the side connecting Mukundpada for its water needs. Water pumped from the river is stored in 4 “houds” or concrete tanks from where villagers will fetch their water. Since Mukundpada has only 13 houses, the villagers have been given individual water filters to ensure they get safe drinking water as well.
All homes have received home lighting solutions that include a solar panel, 2 bulbs, a mobile charging facility and a portable lantern for outdoor use. Streets are now safer and brighter with sensor-based street lights that light up their path. The School is now better equipped with solar support to ensure a better learning experience with e-learning.
All homes have received home lighting solutions that include a solar panel, 2 bulbs, a mobile charging facility and a portable lantern for outdoor use. Streets are now safer and brighter with sensor-based street lights that light up their path. The School is now better equipped with solar support to ensure a better learning experience with e-learning.
Impact
The changes seen in Ghodipada and Mukundpada have been multifold. Vastly improved health indicators are being seen thanks to the clean and pure drinking water, as well as the access to water that allows kitchen gardening and captive farming has enable food security and better nutrition. There has been a phenomenal behavioural change, with the villagers claiming a reduction in alcoholism from 95% to 55% in the village men as they are now gainfully occupied in farming. The women have also empowered themselves, cultivating themselves and forming an All Women’s Farming Group for group cultivation for financial independence.
