Access to water and sanitation in the Thar desert

Access to water and sanitation in the Thar desert

Number of beneficiaries : 1375 members of the population

Project duration : 2024/2025 – 2 years

Place : District of Jodpur, Region of Rajasthan

Project financed under a framework agreement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Local partner

Founded in 1971, His Highness Maharaja Hanwant Singhji Charitable Trust (HHMHSCT) is a foundation carrying out development activities in the state of Rajasthan. Its actions focus mainly on access to drinking water, the fight against drought, the strengthening of women’s capacities and the improvement of the health and hygiene conditions of the populations.

 

Context

The Rajasthan region is underdeveloped with very high illiteracy and poverty rates. Two thirds of this region is made up of the Thar Desert. This area suffers from severe drought, having only 1% of the country’s drinking water resources. This lack of water threatens food security by directly impacting agriculture and livestock farming in the region. In addition, the lack of sanitation facilities forces the population to defecate in the open air and to wash only rarely, which causes nearly 80% of illnesses in children under 10 years old.

The mission

This project aims to improve the living conditions of the population of the Thar desert through access to basic sanitary facilities concerning drinking water, hygiene, and energy.

Activities

• Build rainwater tanks, latrines, and showers.
• Raise public awareness on hygiene (use of latrines, hand washing, etc.).
• Provide solar water heaters to decontaminate the water.
• Provide solar ovens to cook without toxic fumes.
• Raise public awareness on the benefits of solar energy on the environment.

Beneficiaries

1375 members of the population