1."When the 'khichdi' cooks properly, we know that the water is good. Otherwise the khichdi would smell and taste bad. Illnesses were common because of poor water and sanitation facilities, and it was a routine matter for villagers to take medicine with their meals. Today, instead of drinking water from an open well, the people now practice household level chlorination. Some of the common ailments prevalent in the village have now reduced significantly."
 

2."When ESR was being constructed all the women Pani Samiti members monitored the activity by taking turns. Since the water supply scheme is over we have water availability in vicinity. The time saved from traveling to fetch water is utilized now for making Papads and supporting the families."

3."Prior to the scheme we had to drink turbid water that we got from the 'khankas' (small pits dug in the ground) and in summer we had to dig new khankas regularly. The house connections have now really eased our lives. And even on special occasions water is available round the clock at the stand post."

4."Tanks are our lifeline. In summer when the pond gets dry, we filter the water from the tank and use it. Our neighbours too use this water. We clean our tanks before the rains every year."

5."We have regular schedule for cleaning the village. By having faliya wise meetings we tried to motivate the people and with participation of community we could make 283 household toilets in the village. We also took a step further. We placed dustbins in every faliya and encouraged everyone to throw garbage in the same. This collected garbage is used to prepare organic manure. Due to all these efforts in spite of heavy rains and epidemic breakout of Chikun guniya our village did not have a single case."

6."When I came to this village after getting married, I used to go a long distance to fetch water and my turn would come after half an hour. Today we get water at our doorsteps and that too with good pressure. I will ensure that my daughter gets married into a village with a good system for drinking water."

7."The total cost of creation of in-village water facilities came to Rs. 13,30,000 and the village gave Rs.1,35,750 as 10 per cent community contribution. We decided to fix differential rates for contribution taking into account the paying capacity of the households. Accordingly, socially and economically backward community households paid Rs. 50 per household and the economically sound households paid Rs. 1000 per household."

8."We got affiliated with community managed water programme but the major hurdle was community contribution and tariff collection. Our village has more population of salt pan workers and farm workers who survive on meager income. Moreover, they had contributed for construction of a temple in the village, just some time ago. The village had two options - either to build the temple or have water facilities. We thought that building facilities for water and meeting the basic needs of humanity is as important and pious a work as God's worship. And we made up our mind to use the community contribution for creation of water facilities. We wanted to stand up to the trust the government had rested in us. Thus together a 'Jalmandir' was created."

9."Initially I used to think what is so great about quality in water? Any water is always good for drinking. But when we had water quality testing campaign in the village, I realized that water can be cause of so many diseases. Presently, our Pani Samiti is doing water quality surveillance and chlorination regularly."

10."It is after 50 long years that the women's need for water has been satisfied. What the men could not achieve after all these years, the women achieved. It is because we value water, we make sure that we look after the water structures and also ensure that there is no wasteful consumption of water."