For the first time since India became independent, thousands of villagers in remote regions along the India-Pakistan international border in Rajasthan’s Barmer district now have access to drinking water delivered right to their homes. This significant achievement, facilitated by the Jal Jeevan Mission, has revolutionized the daily existence of these residents, who formerly endured long treks to procure water.
Organiser E Exit poll Lok Sabha Elections 2024
Vipin Jain, the superintendent engineer of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) in Barmer, pointed out the difficulties faced in the project. “Adverse natural conditions, lack of water, and the absence of paved roads made the project difficult,” he said. However, through hard work, collective effort, and constant communication with the villagers, the project was completed in six to eight months,” he said.
The villagers celebrated the arrival of tap water with joy and traditional rituals, such as singing folk songs (Bad—hawa), performing a Tilak ceremony, and Mangal Arti. This event was a big change for villagers who long relied on arduous journeys to fetch water.
The villages in the Gadra Road subdivision near the Pakistani border are found in one of the most isolated and difficult areas of Barmer, India’s second-largest desert district.
Over the past 77 years, residents in numerous villages faced hardships due to the absence of paved roads and reliable electricity. Many of these villages depended heavily on agriculture that relied on rainfall.
Residents mentioned that typically, in bordering regions, the main concern is the risk of enemy attacks. However, here in the western part of Rajasthan, known as one of the hottest areas in the country, the primary struggle is for water. In this community, neighbours are generous with essentials like ghee if requested, but water is a different story. Borrowing even a pot of water from a neighbour was taken seriously, with every exchange carefully noted down. It was expected that any borrowed water would be returned promptly.
The effective execution of the Jal Jeevan Mission in these villages marks a major milestone, ensuring hundreds of residents have access to a reliable water source.
In Dhagari village, along with other neighbouring villages, the atmosphere was filled with happiness as villagers celebrated the introduction of tap water. They expressed their joy through songs and traditional rituals, welcoming the tap with garlands and performing Mangal Aarti.
Dhira Ram, a 75-year-old man, feels like he’s living a dream. He remembers spending most of his life managing his drinking water needs since childhood. However, for years, he had heard about the possibility of having tap water delivered directly to his doorstep but never imagined it would happen in his lifetime.
Tararam Meghwal, a 62-year-old resident of Dhagari village, expressed, “Back in my school days, when we came across a picture of a tap in our books, we couldn’t grasp its meaning since never seen one in our village.”
Ashok Singh Rajpurohit, the IEC manager at the water works department in Barmer, commented, “The success of the Jal Jeevan Mission showcases the significant change brought about by persistent hard work and commitment.”
