PRASAD PROGRAMS | INDIA
Sanitation & Water Security
Clean Drinking Water Initiative
Many of us take access to clean, safe water for granted, yet in India, the second most populous country in the world, it is estimated that 75% of its drinking water is contaminated. According to World Bank estimates, one in five cases of communicable disease in India is attributed to contaminated water. In the rural Tansa Valley, the health of the residents is often adversely affected by waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid.
The situation worsens with the deluge of monsoons, which muddy and further contaminate the water, increasing the possibility of waterborne illness. The impact goes beyond compromising health; livelihoods are also threatened among people who cannot afford to miss a day of work.
Since launching the Clean Drinking Water initiative in 2014, PRASAD Chikitsa has emphasized the importance of clean water and distributed 1,850 water filters throughout the Tansa Valley, educating villagers on their proper use. The easy-to-use filters are life-changing, making water, a basic human need and right, safe for consumption.
Village and Farm Wells
Wells are important water sources for villages and individual farmers. Without them, women could be forced to walk miles to the nearest water source, which would likely not be clean and flowing, and farmers would not be able to collect water needed for irrigation in the dry season, limiting their crop cultivation and earning potential.
When wells are not properly constructed, they collapse during the monsoon season and fill with soil and silt, making it nearly impossible to access water. PRASAD Chikitsa works with farmers to help them properly construct wells to ensure a consistent year-round water supply so that they can expand and diversify crops, improving family food and financial security. We also build, refurbish and maintain village wells, providing families with an accessible domestic water supply and helping women stay safe.
Sanitation and Wastewater Purification
According to the World Health Organization, more than 2 billion, or 26% of the world’s population of 7.7 billion, live without access to basic sanitation facilities. In rural India, many people don’t have toilets, and they practice open defecation, which can cause diseases and put women at risk of assault.
To improve the lives of Tansa Valley residents, PRASAD Chikitsa launched the Sanitation Project in 2014. Promoting easy-to-build, environmentally friendly toilets, to date, PRASAD has helped villagers install 875 toilets.
In conjunction with the Sanitation Project, PRASAD Chikitsa is working to purify wastewater. Lack of proper drainage systems and untreated wastewater results in polluted soil and groundwater, contributing to the spread of diseases like malaria.
PRASAD Chikitsa is providing villagers with instruction and assistance to construct soak pits, or cesspools, for hygienic disposal of wastewater, a great benefit to community health.
Stories
Inspiring stories about PRASAD'S Sanitation & Water Security programs
Two Pieces of Good News
We have two pieces of good news to share! First, a story from Koshimshet, and the life-changing work being done there. Water is a crucial
Helping Farmers Succeed
As we continue to celebrate our 30th anniversary, we look to share the stories that have inspired us and the goals we hope to accomplish.
Water, a Precious and Limited Resource
Village women access the refurbished well at Ghotgaon While water is a sustainable resource, it is also a limited resource. Some 3 in 10 people
Help entire villages get access to clean water
PRASAD distributes and implements clean water and improved sanitation. The easy-to-use filters are life-changing, making water, a basic human need and right, safe for consumption.
