Project Brief
In collaboration with New Hope Rural Leprosy Trust, this project aims to provide clean and safe drinking water for the residents of Jhan Jhur Leprosy Colony, a community rejected and isolated from society. The colony faces a severe water crisis due to contamination in the shallow water sources, putting residents’ health and survival at serious risk. Installing a new, deeper borewell will help meet this critical need for clean water, significantly improving their living conditions.
Location: India
Funds Needed: $2,600
The Need
Life in an Indian leprosy colony is marked by isolation, stigma, and the daily challenges of survival. Those living there are abandoned by society because of their conditions. Daily life consists of begging just to survive. Residents, many of whom have been abandoned by their families and society, live in small, basic shelters, often facing limited access to healthcare, clean water, and sanitation. Many are physically disabled due to untreated leprosy, which makes earning a living difficult, and some rely on begging just to get by. New Hope Rural Leprosy Trust plays a vital role in improving the lives of these marginalized individuals. The organization provides essential healthcare services, including wound care and medical supplies, and delivers food and hygiene kits to ensure basic survival.
Jhan Jhur Leprosy Colony is situated on squatted land beside a river. Over time, the riverbanks have eroded and shifted, causing the murky, polluted water to infiltrate the water table, affecting the shallow borewell that serves both the Colony and nearby hut dwellers. Without access to clean water, the health and survival of the colony’s residents are increasingly at risk.
The Solution
To address the urgent water crisis at Jhan Jhur Leprosy Colony, this project aims to drill a new borewell with casing, ensuring access to clean, safe drinking water. The new borewell will reach a depth of 90 to 110 feet, or as determined necessary during drilling, to protect the water supply from contamination and provide long-term security for the colony and nearby dwellers. This solution will not only improve the health and wellbeing of the residents but will also restore a basic human right—access to clean water—that is crucial for survival in an already marginalized community.
The Opportunity
For $2,600 New Hope can drill and install a new borewell, providing immediate and lasting relief to the residents of Jhan Jhur Leprosy Colony. This project offers a profound health benefit by reducing waterborne illnesses but also promotes social and emotional stability by restoring access to clean water.
