HerLife: Water Security
Water Security Provides Opportunity for Indian Women in Rajasthan.
“Worldwide, women and girls spend 200 million hours or more collecting water every day.”
-UNICEF Estimate as of 2016
Water scarcity is not something we are all too worried about in our Western world of modern conveniences and abundance. You want to think easy access to clean water would be a global reality. Unfortunately, water scarcity is an everyday reality for the men and women of the Thar desert in Rajasthan, India.
WomenServe is dedicated to 100% water security in this area of the world. Here is how we are doing it.
WomenServe works directly with communities in Rajasthan to restore old and build traditional rainwater catchment systems in six villages.
To date, 9 Naadis (village ponds)across the 6 villages have been built improving water security for over 28,000 people.
To take it one step further, WomenServe partners with communities to provide comprehensive training on the use and maintenance of Khadins to ensure the greatest benefits.
- 9 Naadis (rainwater catchment ponds) built since 2009
- 318,000 Estimated number of hours of walking saved in 2020
- 582 Taankas (rainwater catchment tanks) built since 2009
Water Security
Taankas: A 20,000 Liter Water Storage Tank
Taankas: A 20,000 Liter Water Storage Tank
Khadin: A Rainwater Harvesting System
Naadi: An Oasis in the Desert
It only rains for one month out of the year in Rajasthan. A Naadi, also known as a village pond, is a traditional water-harvesting technique that collects and stores this rain for year-round consumption. Naadis provide water security for the village and its livestock.
Although Naadis have existed for centuries in the Thar Desert, maintaining them became less common over time, leading to the degradation of the ponds. When a Naadi is not maintained or de-silted, the pond loses its ability to store rainwater over long periods of time.
The WomenServe team works alongside communities to provide guidance and support in desilting and reinvigorating unmaintained Naadis.
Naadis that are well-maintained can provide surrounding communities with a sustainable source of water for a full year.
Naadi: An Oasis in the Desert
It only rains for one month out of the year in Rajasthan. A Naadi, also known as a village pond, is a traditional water-harvesting technique that collects and stores this rain for year-round consumption. Naadis provide water security for the village and its livestock.
Although Naadis have existed for centuries in the Thar Desert, maintaining them became less common over time, leading to the degradation of the ponds. When a Naadi is not maintained or de-silted, the pond loses its ability to store rainwater over long periods of time.
The WomenServe team works alongside communities to provide guidance and support in desilting and reinvigorating unmaintained Naadis.
Naadis that are well-maintained can provide surrounding communities with a sustainable source of water for a full year.
Gardens
740
Total water projects since 2009
300,000
Estimated number of hours of walking saved in 2019.
