When the Sector Reform Scheme programme was introduced in Jamanvihir village of Dangs by the ISA (Rajiv Gandhi Rural Youth Development .Foundation, Surat), the people saw a chance to solve their water woes. The village which is largely dependent on rain-fed farming has 110 households and a population of 414. Post-monsoon many of them find employment as sugar-cane workers. A typical tribal village, the houses are scattered and distributed among smaller hamlets. For the daily water requirements people depend on one well and three hand pumps. Everyday, the women have a daily trudge to one of the close-by hand pumps, but as summer approaches they have to manoeuvre their way across at least two kms. of rocky terrain and tricky slopes to fetch water from the well. In fact, the women said that on reaching the hand pump the first thing that they need to do is to sit down and catch their breath.

On introduction of the programme the Pani Samiti was formed in a Gram Sabha with five women as members. Being a backward and tribal area the cash contribution was 2.5 per cent and the rest was contributed in the form of labour. Jerambhai, a Pani Samiti member says that the responsibility for labour work was shared by all. It was decided that one person from each household would make a labour contribution, while the village elders supervised the work.

Working shoulder to shoulder, the people developed a water supply system including one well, a 20,000 litres tank, 13 stand posts and 2 cattle troughs, and they have also developed an O&M system. Jamshubhai Thakar, the Pani Samiti chairperson, says, "The programme has helped people to become aware of water quality issues. I am hopeful that better awareness on the issue and availability of safe water through the system will have a positive impact on the health of the people and in turn their productivity would increase."