Rainwater harvesting in the Dudu District, Rajasthan, India
Our final programme in India provided a year round supply of sustainable clean water to marginalised communities at Sunadiya & Chhappya villages.
This project completed in late 2024. Scroll down for an update on this programme and to read historic news about our work in India over almost 40 years.
Key programme facts
Rainwater structures
15 domestic rainwater harvesting structures and one large structure at a primary school
Community
Support
Supported by our
local NGO partner in India –
Water Wisdom
Foundation
Supporting the marginalised
Reducing the vulnerability of women who collect water from long distances and reducing water borne diseases
About our final programme in India
The villages of Sunadiya and Chhappya are in the recently formed Dudu district of Rajasthan, India, located near to the famous Sambhar Salt Lake.
The ground water in this region contains high salinity along with higher fluoride levels & is not suitable for drinking or irrigation. The region has also been affected by recurrent droughts, making the search for new and improved approaches in water resources management an imminent need.
Over half of the Sambhar Salt Lake region is home to marginalized communities lacking infrastructure and other services. Many residents belong to minority communities or the lowest ladder of the caste system, suffering discrimination and extreme poverty.
Due to the water scarcity women and girls / even small children must fetch drinking water from far flung water sources. During the summer water is often collected by digging shallow holes into dry river beds. These areas are prone to contamination and could be situated any kilometers away, making water collection more labour intensive.
Providing year round access to clean water at home will be transformational for the residents of Sunadiya and Chhappya. Women and children will not have to walk far distances to alternative sources of water, allowing children to stay in school and women to focus on other important activities.
We are very grateful to The Monsoon Accessorize Trust for funding this programme which will be delivered during 2024.
As previously advised to our supporters, the WaterHarvest India Liaison Office was formally closed on 31st March 2023. This project in the Dudu District was our final programme in India as our sister organisation the Water Wisdom Foundation (WFF) which we helped to establish, is best placed to continue the work we previously funded.
Our former Country Director, Om Prakash joined WWF in 2024 and he is more than capable of managing future local water harvesting programmes without our involvement. In addition, as WWF is not UK based it is able to raise funds from donors living in India and it has also received FCRA registration to enable it to receive funds from abroad.
We will always remain immensely honoured by what we have achieved in India over the past three decades – none of which would be possible without the support of local partners to whom we wish every success in the future. We would also like to acknowledge all the funders and donors who have supported our programmes in India, with special thanks to the Monsoon Accessorize Trust who have generously supported this work in recent years.
Historic news about our work in India over almost 40 years can be found below.
Historic Programme News
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Seeing is believing
A short video clip enables you to see our work from the ground, from the sky and through the different seasons in just a few minutes. Please note this blog was published on the 7th May 2020. Whilst nothing replicates the experience of being on the ground in our programmes, our short video clips do have their…
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COVID 19 Update – 31st March 2020
In these difficult and unprecedented times, we wanted to keep you updated on WaterHarvest and its programmes. On 24th March 2020, the Indian government ordered people to stay in their homes. As at Tuesday 31st March, there are 1,251 reported cases of coronavirus in India and 32 deaths. Like all countries across the world, testing is…
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The rain water harvesting structures are full
Following a good monsoon, our water harvesting structures are now full. Our projects depend on a good monsoon. It’s what we do. It’s in our name – we harvest water. We need the rains in order for the structures to work. Whilst the monsoons do come every year, some areas can receive hardly any rain…
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Swimming for clean water
Swimming for clean water Can you help Mark, a visually impaired swimmer, swim the Channel? If you have recently taken a ferry across the English Channel returning from a summer holiday, the furthest thing from your mind as you looked down at the grey, choppy waters was probably a long swim. I know my thoughts were…
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How our work is helping in Dholavira
The severe drought in Dholavira and the significance of Water Harvesting How are the Water Harvesting works in Dholavira village helping reduce the troubles of people and animals during a serious drought? The Rann, of Kutch, is situated in the western part of the India. This region has been considered one of the hottest places…
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The importance of the monsoon
Why is the monsoon so important? With the monsoon set to arrive in Rajasthan in the next fortnight, we look at what makes it so important. With the rain seen in the UK over the last week, it’s hard to imagine the heatwave currently going on in India as they wait for the arrival of…
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Our first UNESCO conference
Our first ever UNESCO Water Conference Water can be a source of conflict. It should be a source of peace. This week our CEO, Nicola Floyd, attended the UNESCO International Water Conference in Paris. With over 37 government ministers, 1,000 scientists and water experts, 126 countries and many young people represented, this was an opportunity to…
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Why hand pumps are important
Handpumps – small but significant Somendra Sharma, WaterHarvest’s India Office Programme Manager, explains why handpumps are so important In regions facing a water deficit, Roof Rain Water Harvesting Structures (RRWHS) are a vital way of providing cleaner drinking water to families in our project villages. However, the safety of this water must be ensured –…
