Project 2019-008

Funded August 1, 2019

This project is to drill a well in each of two villages in India, Masudi Village and Ishmaeil Nagar Village.  Inhabitants of both villages lack clean water to drink. Cholera, viral fever and skin diseases are a part of life.  The primary users of the wells will be Christians living in these villages, who often face persecution by others (Hinduism is the primary faith practiced in India). However, the wells will not be restricted to just Christians; all will  be welcomed to enjoy fresh clean water.

 In both villages, the existing water sources are not deep wells and the water is contaminated. Further, there is no septic system in the villages so, because the wells are not deep, they are polluted with fecal matter. In both cases, this project will be to drill deep wells to clean water sources, that will not be susceptible to contamination due to the lack of an established septic systems in each village.

Providing a deep well will have a great impact on both these villages. The people will not have to walk to the next village and they will have abundant, clean water for all their needs besides drinking, such as bathing, cooking, and laundry and also water for the animals and growing gardens.

Masudi Village

Masudi village is a rural village in Yamuna Nagar region in Haryana state, in North India. People are mostly farmers in this village. It is very remote and villagers need to travel up to 30 miles to go to a hospital or school. There is no government water connection. The village elders have approached governmental authorities to help them with either a hand-dug well or a bore-well, but have received no response at all, for many years. Many (if they had the means to do so) have moved away from this village because there is no water. There is a well at the Hindu temple, but the water is not good for drinking. They must go to the next village for drinking water.

Ishmaeil Village

Ishmaeil Nagar Village is in a remote village in Karnal region in North India. There is not much development in this region and most people exist as farmers. They have a government primary school in this village, but no facilities such as safe drinking water or a medical facility. Ishmaeil Nagar Village had a government bore well which dried up about 2 years ago. There is also a pond in the village and people use this water for their general needs. They travel to a neighboring village 1.25 miles away, where water comes in the morning and evening.

Update January 2020

Two wells have been completed in India – one in Karen Bashti Village and the other in Pasuda Village. Details of the completed wells are set out below:

Well in Karen Basthi Village, India

The well has been completed in Karen Bashti Village, India. This is a remote village, the people are lower caste, and poverty is a major problem. Many of the villagers inhabit slum houses and sadly, most children never go to school But, there is a growing church in this village, and the congregation has been continually praying for a bore well.  This project supplied a deep well which is now providing abundant water for the people. They are enjoying clean, safe drinking water as well as water for all of their household needs. They also now have abundant water for livestock and to water gardens. This will allow for a healthier food diet. No longer will the people suffer from sickness due to drinking water polluted with sewage.

Testimonies from some of the villagers of Karen Basthi (in their own words):

1. Kishor:I am blind. From my birth I could not see. I am not working but my loving wife look after my family. I used to worry about my wife as she do all the work and I am not able to help her in work. We had big problem for the water. She used to keep water for me every day when she go to work. Now I am so happy that I can help my wife to carry water at least for the family. This bore well is just near to my house. I can come here easily and take water from this pipe any time. Thank you so much for helping us.
2. Phargavi:I had some buffalo some months ago. But I sold them as we had water problem. We lost our vegetable and animals. I thought of leaving this village many times as we suffered for the water but my family compelled us to live here as our relatives are here. Today we are so happy to see this bore well. Now we can have our vegetables and animals again.
3. Seetha: I worked hard to look after my family. Working all the day made me sick. But more over I need to carry water for the entire family every day. I lost all the interest for my life as life looks very hard on me. Now I am relieved as we have water just near my house.
4. Swetha: Thank you for helping us with this very good water. I drank this water from the pipe. It is very good. I never drank this much good water. Now I will help my mother to carry water for our house.
5. Nimisha:I work as a social worker in this village. I have tried to make a bore well from government scheme and I tried it for 2 years. But no one helped us with a bore well as it is a big budgeted project. Now I am so happy to see the Christian community could make this beautiful bore well here in this village. I would like to personally thank all of you for helping.

Well in Padusa Village, India

The well is completed in Padusa Village. This is an under-developed rural village, which is difficult to reach due to poor roads. Cultivation and field work are common employment and the people are low-caste. Previously, people used to carry water from a mile or more away from neighboring villages which was difficult for the children and women walking the distances, and they used local water polluted with sewage for household needs. They suffered for clean water for many years. Now they have clean water right in their village for drinking and for all of their household needs. They can also water animals and water their gardens.  This will allow for a healthier food diet. This is an extremely poor village and it means so much to the villagers to have clean water to drink for their families.

Testimonies from the villagers of Padusa Village (in their own words):

1. Sasi Kumar:I am working as the missionary in this village. God gave me a passion for this village. A bore well was our dream and praise God that we could make deep bore well here in this village. Because of this bore well the village counsel became friends with us and thanked us for making this bore well. Also the villagers became friendly and it opened a wider door for me to preach and share about Jesus. Thank you so much for the provisions for making this well here.
2. Shani: I became a believer few months ago. My family is a joint family where my in laws and my family live together. I am the only one became Christian. My family used to argue with me for my decision for going to the church. But when they heard that we are making a bore well they all were happy with me. Now I will bring them for prayer. It is a very big thing for us. Thank you so much.
3. Mallika: We faced big problems for the water in our village specially the ladies as we take care of the houses. I used to specially worry my children as they drink very polluted water. Some time I used to buy the water bottle but it is very expensive for us. Now this water is the best water as this bore well is very deep one. Thank you.
4. Sarojini:I used to walk few kilometers for carrying water from the temple. But I used to get knee pain every day. Carrying water became a big challenge for me as there is no one in my family to help me to carry water. My husband go to work early morning and come home by night. Now I am so happy that we have water in our village. I am relaxed now. Thank you for helping us.
5. Deepu: I used to drink water in the school. My mother used to tell me drink sufficient water from the school as the water there is good. Now we have water in our village. Now I can carry water any time from this well. I am so happy.