“My family had struggled a lot to get drinking water post flood but i am grateful to you for building a handicapped friendly hand pump platform in the village,” says Kmenlang Tongper, a specially abled beneficiary from Kalamura I village.

Caritas India had constructed 18 elevated hand pumps and 2 ring wells for 20 villages of Hailakandi, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts of Assam which were devastated during 2017 floods. These hand pumps were installed based on the geographical locations, like the low land areas hand pumps were elevated to five feets whereas in high land it was raised till three feets.

These hand pumps are not only special in technological aspect but has a social impact. Installed with Direct Action Pump for Low Lift Wells, ‘Tara pump’ is recommended by the Word Bank. It is not only low cost but also provide high discharge rate with safe from bacteriological contamination with minimal maintenance. These hand pump platforms were supported with ramps so that specially abled, old aged and children find it easier to reach to the source of water.

3829 families are getting benefits from these newly constructed water points. Caritas India has implemented the project through Seva Kendra Silchar and Women Development Centre, Guwahati, by keeping people’s choice as the highest priority and ensuring Sphere standards.

During the community meetings, women from the flood affected areas placed their challenge of drinking water. Caritas India team took the issue seriously and installed handpumps and ring wells with the decisions and consent of the people.

Community exhibited greater ownership by contributing in the construction including sand for the hand pumps and ring wells. Inhabitants from Hindus, Christians and Muslims denominations observed combined faith prayer during the inauguration and assured complete ownership and maintenance of the newly constructed water points.

Caritas India through such interventions has been able to reach out to the unreached to ensure that the most deserving people get the benefits during the hours of distress. Caritas India in its mission to serve the poor has reached yet another milestone wherein people have owned up the interventions.