The document discusses the role of NGO Dhara Sansthan in water conservation efforts in Barmer district, Rajasthan, India. It outlines initiatives taken by Dhara Sansthan, including construction of underground water catchments called Taankas and surface catchments called Khadins to store rainwater. It also discusses a project called Jeevan Amrit that installed reverse osmosis water purification plants and the distribution of water backpacks to ease the burden of women fetching water from long distances. The document emphasizes the important role that NGOs can play in facilitating water conservation activities and management.

1. NGO’s ROLE IN WATER
CONSERVATION THROUGH
MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Prepared by:
DHARA SANSTHAN Society
For Development Health Hygiene and Rural
Action

2. INTRODUCTION TO WATER
CONSERVATION
Water conservation encompasses the
policies, strategies and activities to
manage fresh water as a sustainable
resource, to protect the water environment,
and to meet current and future human
demand. Population, household size and
growth and affluence all affect how much
water is used. Factors such as climate
change will increase pressures on natural
water resources especially
in manufacturing and agricultural irrigation

3. STRATEGIES
In implementing water conservation principles there
are a number of key activities that may be beneficial:
1.Any beneficial reduction in water loss, use and
waste of resources.
2.Avoiding any damage to water quality.
3.Improving water management practices that
reduce or enhance the beneficial use of water.

4. Introduction of Barmer
Barmer is a district of western Rajasthan state,
India. Barmer is the second largest district of
Rajasthan. District headquarters is in the town
of Barmer. The other major towns in the district
are: Balotra, Gudamalani,Baytoo, Siwana, Jasol a
nd Chohatan. Recently, a large onshore oil field
has been discovered and made functional in
Barmer district. The name Barmer is derived from
the ruler Bahada Rao Parmar (Panwar) or Bar Rao
Parmar (Panwar) who is said to have founded the
town in the 13th century, when it was
named Bahadamer ("The Hill Fort of Bahada").

6. EFFORTS TAKEN IN BARMER BY DHARA
SANSTHAN
In western Rajasthan, along with
extreme scarcity of water the ground
water is polluted with high fluoride/TDS
and harmful pathogens and brackish in
taste and not fit for drinking.
For this purpose, various initiatives has
been taken by Dhara Sansthan in
Barmer for the purpose of ensuring
better water quality for the residents of
Barmer.

7. EFFORTS TAKEN IN BARMER BY DHARA
SANSTHAN
The initiatives and programs taken up are:
Taanka Construction
Khadin Construction
Jeevan Amrit Project
Water Back Pack Distribution

8. EFFORTS TAKEN IN BARMER BY DHARA
SANSTHAN
TAANKA CONSTRUCTION IN VILLAGES
For the purpose of water conservation in the villages for drinking and
farming purposes, construction of Taankas and Khadins has been
carried out at various villages.
The Taankas ensure conservation of water through catchment areas.
During precipitation the rain water is conserved in the Taankas. The
water from the Taankas prove to be a vital source of drinking water
during the drier seasons. A Taanka is cemented underground water
catchment area which stores rain water mainly. A single Taanka can
sustain up to 2 – 3 households.

9. KHADIN CONSTRUCTION IN VILLAGES
Khadins are majorly constructed for farming
purposes. During monsoons, the rain water is
captured and stored in enormous catchment
areas near the farmlands within the villages.
The stored rain water from theses Khadins are
then used for farming and agricultural
purposes during the drier seasons. Due to the
construction of Khadins, the agricultural
production rate saw an increase and the
farmers could be able to save money by
avoiding to buy water tankers at a high cost.

10. JEEVAN AMRIT PROJECT
Dhara Sansthan jointly with Cairn India, Tata Projects and
with the support of PHED has installed 9 nos. of Reverse
Osmosis Plants in nine different locations of Gudamalani
and Baitu Block of Barmer District, as given below. 2/9 RO
Plants will be shifted to new Villages in future. The other (2)
two RO plants in Akdara and Baitu Bhopji will start up
shortly. (1) One RO Plant in Rawatsar will also start by April
14 as the new bore well is ready and it has to be plumbed
through the existing PHED pipeline, which will be done by
the 2nd week of April 2014. These plants are mostly
installed in Cairn Intervention areas with an objective to
provide access to clean potable drinking water to the village
community through a sustainable community
entrepreneurship model. The raw water source is from
PHED water supply ranging from 300 ppm to 4800 ppm,
which further gets processed into product water of TDS
ranging between 60 to 80 ppm, respectively.

11. WATER BACK PACK DISTRIBUTION
“Relief comes for women in water-stressed regions of Rajasthan as specially designed water backpacks help to ease their arduous task of fetching water.”
In the vast stretches of Thar, water is the most precious
commodity. It is scarce, not always potable and mostly
available at a long distance. In the desert of Rajasthan, one
wouldn’t perhaps mourn for a spilled pot of ghee but each
drop of water is too dear. Here, collecting and storing water is
sheer hard work. Women and children have to walk
long distances to the precious commodity. Urbanites used to
wasting gallons of water in showers, water sports and
maintaining plush homes perhaps cannot imagine what an
arduous task it is.

12. WATER BACK PACK DISTRIBUTION
In a one-of-its-kind initiative,
Balmer Lawrie company has
come forward to lighten the
load of rural women living in
the “water stressed zones” of
Barmer district. The company
recently distributed 5,000
water backpacks to the
women that will make their
task of bringing water home
much easier.

13. WATER BACK PACK DISTRIBUTION
The smart water backpacks will replace the
conventional earthen pots. Carrying a heavy load
on the head takes its toll on the physical health of
the bearer. Many women often suffer from
backache or spinal disorders due to fetching water
from long distances. Water, if spilled on way to
home due to imbalance, further adds to their
woes. Balmer Lawrie, partially owned by the
government, has taken up the project in
pursuance of its corporate social responsibility
(CSR). Its CSR head Dilip Kumar Das said the
company has proposed to distribute 20,000
backpacks during the current financial year.

14. WATER BACK PACK DISTRIBUTION
The company has acquired the bags called
‘PackH2O Water Backpack’ from Greif, a
leading packaging company based in
Turkey. Similar 15,000 backpacks will be
distributed in the water stressed zones of
Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in this
financial year, Mr. Das added. The initial
order is just a beginning as the company
plans to test which regions and markets
are most receptive to this new technology.

15. WATER BACK PACK DISTRIBUTION
Dhara Sansthan, working in the fields of health and
education in Barmer, has helped Balmer Lawrie in a
feasibility study and identification of water stressed
zones in the district. Mahesh Panpalia of Dhara
Sansthan said, “The water situation is very grim in
Barmer district and women have to bring water at least
from 2-3 km away”. During the survey, the women
were shown the bag and also a video which was
instantly liked by them. The women even showed their
willingness to buy these bags but they are not available
in the market. It is also a “business case” for the
company and positive feedback might motivate it to
produce such bags, may be at a small level, Mr. Das
stated.

16. WATER BACK PACK DISTRIBUTION
The award-winning pack (Popular Science
2012 Best of What’s New Award winner) is a
scientifically-tested alternative to buckets and
jerry cans used to transport water from source
to home. Each backpack can hold about five
gallons (20 liters) of water in a removable liner
that, after use, can be easily sanitized with
exposure to sunlight. With a spout for
dispensing water and a puncture-resistant
outer shell, PackH2O is said to be a safe and
effective way to store clean water.

17. WATER BACK PACK DISTRIBUTION
According to Tony Somers, COO of PackH2O, “one
in seven people globally are affected by water crisis.
The problem includes avoiding contamination and
eliminating health risks when bringing water home.”
Barmer has a scattered population and virtually all
the eight blocks of the district fall under
overexploitation of water category. Conservation of
available groundwater is really crucial for
sustainability and lots of initiatives are being taken
up in the border district. Incidentally, Barmer has
also set a record in constructing the highest number
of tankas (well-like water storage structures made of
concrete, cement and sand) in the State.

18. Role of NGOs in Water Conservation
An NGO can play various important roles in conservation of water in arid regions:
NGOs can play a role of a facilitator between the Panchayat Institutions and the
Govt. bodies; Such as PHED (Public Health & Engineering Department.
NGOs can play a vital role of mobilizing bodies and institutions related to water
and agriculture.
NGOs can help create communities or committees at the village level which can
keep check on the Ground Level Reservoirs and the PHED pipelines to avoid
damage and water wastage.

19. Role of NGOs in Water Conservation
NGOs can play a role of a motivator among the communities
in teaching them various methodologies for ensuring
conservation of water.
NGOs can play an important role in ensuring waste water
management in urban areas. Such amount of waste water
can be recycled and used in the rural areas for agricultural
purposes and also would check water wastage.
In the Highlands and mountainous regions where natural
water runoffs occur, the NGOs can implement projects like
construction of Khadins for capturing the runoff water. This
would prove to be beneficial for the purpose of agriculture.

20. Role of NGOs in Water Conservation
NGOs can approach the Industrial Corporate
sectors with plans of water management and
conservation and channelize funds for implementing
programs in required regions and areas.
Also NGOs can create a model which would be
effective in the field of water management. The
model could aim to create partnerships with the
private sector, the Govt. bodies and with the
panchayat institutions in implementing programs
related to water conservation.

21. Role of NGOs in Water Conservation
NGOs can liaison with the govt. related to
water sector and plan for projects and
programs relating to waste water
management in the city levels. Eg:
Collaborating with govt. toilet construction
department for this purpose.

22. FACTS & FIGURES OF BARMER
Number of Wells and Tube wells in Barmer
Shiv 212
Barmer 685
Chohtan 382
Gudamalani 329
Baytu 215
Siwana 124
Ramsar 206
Pachpadra 348

23. FACTS & FIGURES OF BARMER
Livestock In Barmer
Cows 637510
Buffaloes 156477
Sheep 1371217
Goats 2221007
Horses 1724
Camels 58766

24. FACTS & FIGURES OF BARMER
Demographic Profile
Below 18 years 1127155
Above 18 years 147728
18 years to 45 years 90000 (approx.)
61 years to 80 years 97360
Above 80 years 20754
Total Population - 2604453

25. ABOUT DHARA SANSTHAN
Vision:-
“Healthy and just society in which; all the
communities have equal access to basic
needs.”

26. ABOUT DHARA SANSTHAN
Mission: -
To empower; deprived communities to demand
and manage access to health, education and
livelihood resources and services.”

27. ABOUT DHARA SANSTHAN
DHARA SANSTHAN: “Development of Health Hygiene and
Rural Action,” is a nonprofit developmental organization
working in a Western part of the Rajasthan from last two
decades. DHARA defines the great dream of Robert
Chamber “The development is that needs to prove by work
of efficiency”. DHARA follows the principles of resource
development and productivity through efficient management
practices, focusing on aspects of sustainable development
incorporating. Since the beginning, DHARA is working for
empowering poor and deprived community for increased
access to basic requirements such as health, education,
drinking water, and resource base in rural areas. DHARA
has worked with more than 100000 rural families and many
funding agencies. Through its experience in various fields, it
has created a leading image in developmental sector in
western Rajasthan as well as National level.

28. NEWS FLASH IN RAJASTHAN PRADESHIK
SAMACHAR…

29. In the Media….

30. In the Media….

31. At A Glance….

32. RO PLANT INAUGURATION AT POLICE LINE
BARMER….

33. At A Glance….

34. At A Glance….

35. THANK YOU…
Regards,
Dhara Sansthan
House # 245, Shri Krishna Nagar,
Rai Colony, Barmer - 344001. Rajasthan
Land Line : +91 2982 221556
,223384,223570
Mobile : +91 9414271028
Mobile: +919636153333
Email: dharasansthan@gmail.com
Website: http://www.dharasansthan.org