“There is no straight path for the weak-minded traveler,
The Himalayas do not even bother the hard-hearted traveler”

The above-mentioned fact has been proved by the water committee of Mathawada village which has collected a huge amount of Rs. 5,29,000/- as a community contribution for the Jal Jeevan Mission Program. The target was very hard but it has become possible due to the hard work of the village water committee and the continuous support from the CSPC team.

Mathavada village is a coastal village located at a distance of 24 kilometers in the East of Talaja taluka andjust 5 kilometers away from the world famous Alang Shipbreaking Yard. The population of the village is approximately 3350 form 350 to 400 housesholds. The village is mainly inhabited by Talpada Koli, Bharwad, Harijan. The main occupation of the villagers is agriculture / farm labor. The average economic condition of the village is poor.

There was a severe shortage of water when a CSPC field team visited the village in December 2020 under the Jal Jeevan Mission program. People were fetching water from a well / hand pump / farm well, and water was a very serious problem in the village.

Mathawada village had earlier had a drinking water scheme under Ghogha Regional Water Supply program in 2001/02, in which water was distributed to the people through overhead tank to the stand posts. There was underground sump also. But due to lack of proper repairs and maintenance, the scheme lasted for 10 years only and currently the scheme is in defunct condition.

After completing the social process in Mathavada village under Jal Jeevan Mission program, the scheme file was submitted to WASMO (Water and Sanitation Management Organization) for further process. Wasmo Bhavnagar conducted technical survey in June 2021 and prepared the estimates of the village water supply system costing Rs. 52,93,700 / -. As per the norms of Jal Jeevan Mission program, the community was to collect 10% community contribution which was Rs. 5,29,300 /-. The Pani Samiti decided to collect Rs. 1,700/- per household as a community contribution.

The real trouble has just begun at this moment. For nearly 6 months, efforts were made by the village panchayat and water committee to collect community contribution, but due to poor economic condition of the village, as well as social and political divisions, community contribution was not forthcoming.

Then in July 2021 the CSPC team consisting of Kamleshbhai Solanki, Rafiqbhai andVipulbhai held a meeting at the house of the neutral leader of the village Shri Naranbhai Vaghela. In this meeting around 25 to 30women were remained present. Shri Kamkeshbhai sensitized these women on the hardship of drinking water in such a way that 18 women deposited their contribution at a time which came to Rs. 30,600 /-. This was a turning point for the Jal Jeevan Mission program in the village. This has again proved that if women decide to undertake any work collectively, no one can stop them behind.

After that the Sarpanch of the village Shri Bipinbhai Solanki and the community leader Shri Naranbhai Vaghela push the process of collecting communitycontribution with the help of the Pani Samiti members. This was supported with the continuous follow up by the field team of CSPC. As a result, during 8 months, Rs. 5,18,200/- were collected as a community contribution from 305 households.

Currently a new Panchayat has come into force and the Pani Samiti has also been reformed. The physical works have been started in the village and with the community participation the water will reach to the doorstep of each and every household in the village. Thus, the dream of “Har Ghar Nal Se Jal” will become true.