Secretary’s note: 010408

MITHRA Foundation of Tamil Nadu, India

This organization was endorsed by Brother Kimpton after the first unsolicited proposal was received from them in January of 2004, requesting $2,800 for one bore well and hand pump in each of four villages. The WFH Committee awarded a partial grant of $1,000 in June of that year. They demonstrated that they could conduct and complete a project in good faith and submitted  a proper final completion report. A later solicited proposal was received in December of 2005 requesting $1,055 for five wells in tsunami-affected villages ($211 per well). They were awarded a partial grant of $420 for two wells in June of 2006, and they properly submitted a project completion report (excerpted below). Three wells remain to be funded.

“With the grant amount from WFH, USA, two bore wells were sunk in Thalanguda and Sonakuppam coastal hamlets of Cuddalore district. Apart from the workers of the bore well company, women Self-Help Group (SHG) members, youth club members and volunteers actively helped with drilling, removing bore well waste, inserting casing pipe, inserting PVC pipe, etc…In both the bore wells, water level is in the depth of 12-15 feet. However, to manage with summer season, the wells were sunk in the depth of 27 and 35 feet respectively. By the grace of God, water available from the bore wells is tasty and saline free. Each bore well has a good yield to cater to the drinking water needs of the target community. The bore well work was carried out in the presence of the Panchayat president and union councilors…ISO marked hand pumps were installed in the bore wells. A platform was constructed around the hand pumps giving slight slope to drain the waste water…A two-day training on repair and maintenance of hand pumps was conducted by MITHRA for 20 SHG members and 20 youth group members. Trainers from Tamil Nadu Water & Drainage Board, Cuddalore district  conducted the training sessions. The trainees clarified their doubts on repair and replacement of hand pump system…A one-day awareness seminar  was organized on “Hygiene of Drinking Water and Proper Management”. Resource persons from TWAD Board, Cuddalore and leading NGO’s conducted the sessions of the seminar. 125 women, 75 men and 35 school students from the target villages attended the seminar.”

Benefits of the bore well project:

1 – The target community got the protected drinking water.

2 – Available water is tasty and saline-free.

3 – Good drinking water is available to the cattle.

4 – The people, especially children and the aged, are prevented from contracting water-borne diseases.

5 – Time is saved from harassment in seeking protected drinking water.

6 – The target community fetches protected drinking water without time limit.

7 – A total of 200 to 250 families from each village benefit and enjoy the safe drinking water.

“We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of the valuable grant sanctioned for the benefit of the tsunami-affected people. We pray to God to shower His abundant blessing on every member of your society.”

Secretary’s P.S.   WFH thanks the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley of Norwich, VT, for sponsoring one of these wells. The second was funded from the WFH general funds.