DHAN-PAN IIT Water Initiative
Water is the most throbbingly vital, most deeply needed resource of our lives. No one can go through a day without any water to drink and wash; and when there is this rare occurrence, our very lives come to a standstill. Thousands of people in urban India are familiar with this struggle—cities simply do not have enough drinking water for its inhabitants and thousands can speak from across cities, of the wait for the uncertain, dodgy once-in-three-days supply, long wait in the line for the water tanker, not enough water and the water fights.
Except for the crops, which are rain fed and suffered due to its vagaries; rural India was considerably safe and self-sufficient in its drinking water sources, due to age-old, traditional water harvesting practices that wisely utilized the rainfall and soil quality of each place to create enough water storage devices to help people get through the summer. But the erosion of traditional practices and unsure advance of modern conveniences has meant, most villagers have also foregone the upkeep and maintenance of traditional water storage devices and water bodies, and suffer due to an often acute lack of water, chiefly drinking water.
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A drinking water tank – full of weeds, silt and other encroachments |
The villagers in this town get drinking water once in 4 days from the pipe. |
We are very pleased to be working with the Pan IIT alumni for the Cause of Water. DHAN is working on the theme of water for the last two decades with the community, government and others interested in this cause. We are very happy to see the responses from the Alumni. It reinforces our belief that giving back to the society touches a chord and when meaningful ways to do the same are available everyone would like to come forward to support it.
On our part we will work with the community to ensure that the support extended by the alumni is put to the best use with the community benefiting from it and taking care of it for the future.
Project Cost
Each project is expected to be in the range of Rs 2 - 3 lakhs in each village. Villagers will put one third by way of their labour,one third will come from an alumnus from this district and another third hopefully from an NRI who wants to ensure we provide a workable model.
Dhan foundation will do all the work through their experienced project management team . But you will be visiting the project site and report and ensure the quality of work expected by PanIIT. The work will hopefully be completed by December so we can show case this as mission accomplished.
Speaking from my personal experience, having worked on 4 similar projects with DHAN Foundation, at the conclusion of this project, when you see the smiles on the faces of the villagers, you will conclude this is the BEST project you have done in your entire career
Selected Projects
Messages from Alumni
Two out of the 23 alumni messages are shown below.
"I would like to sign up for one of the villages and be responsible for the one-third financial commitment. Let me know what needs to be done. Thanks." |
| "My daughter is planning for a fundraiser in Sep. - Oct.'08 by putting up a cultural show in the community to help villagers in India and this seemed to be a timely and wonderful cause." |
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"I have visited the Dhan website and have selected a village [Orivayal; TN] for sponsorship. I am pledging Rs 1,00,000 towards the project. Once I get a confirmation from them, I will send them the amount as per instructions from them, or you."
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| The first contribution received for this intiative is from Mr. M.G. Parameswaran. |
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