Providing Clean Water to Villages in India

We took an entire day to drive from Bangalore north to visit six villages that we were providing with clean water. The distance is not that far, but it takes up to two hours to drive from Elder and Sister Fairbanks apartment to the outskirts of Bangalore with its 8 million inhabitants. We had rented a van with six seats. Nathan, the site monitor, came along with the Fairbanks and us. We stopped along the way for breakfast. The pastries looked the best!! We settled for a rice pancake for breakfast. Notice how large it is, shaped in a cone. It was quite thin, but with the special sauce in the little cups, tasted pretty good.

The Indian people eat with their right hand. (no utensils). Notice Sister Smith is preparing to break off a piece and dip it into one of the sauces.

Our first stop after breakfast was in Temcor where we met with the NGO, Mr. Masrthy from Abhivrudhi Construction, and the contractor, Mr. Shrinavar. They were ready for us with beautiful garland leis, some snacks, and warm welcomes. We reviewed the projects, were brought up to date on progress and headed for the villages about 45 minutes away.

These were really elaborate leis. They were actually quite heavy. Giving flowers is a tradition in India, somewhat like Hawaii.

The women looked even more beautiful with their flowers.

We got them home and took a more detailed picture of one of them.

We even had a cake to celebrate our visit.



The villages consisted of huts and some concrete buildings. Most villages had wells, but they were located away from the homes and required sometimes long walks by the women to get the water. The wells were sometimes not functioning well.

Women gathering at the well to visit and draw water. They used their heads to carry the water.

The water project the church provided included building three above ground storage tanks, new bore wells, and distribution lines going from the tank into the villages where cement floor water spighots would be constructed closer to the homes of the villagers. The electricity is sporadic in the villages, and with the storage tanks, water can be obtained through gravity flow even when the power is off. That is not true of the old wells. No power to run the pump, no water.

The mothers are excited to know they will soon have water closer for their use.

The women are all dressed conservatively, and they are proud to be mothers.

There were several banners throughout the villages greeting Elder and Sister Smith and Elder and Sister Fairbanks. We really hadn't done much of the work, but they were happy to see someone come from far off Hong Kong to visit their villages. Our white skin was especially strange for the children.

< The dirt mound covers the distribution pipe from the tank into the village and the spighots. The villagers helped dig the trenches.

This is one of the almost completed tanks. They still have ladders to install and some finish work. The water is supposed to be flowing within two weeks.

The water is flowing into this tank. We were asked to be part of a symbolical water releasing ceremony. Here we assemble before I turn the handle.

We heard the water flowing.

Elder Fairbanks is in the center. The village chieftan is at his left in the picture.

A closeup of one of the banners,

The immature coconuts are cut open and the juice is drunk with a straw. The meat of the coconut is not completely formed as yet, so there is a lot of juice. This was our second try at it. We did pretty good and started to get used to the taste. I think root beer is still better!!

The sign is pretty small, but it does give credit. Sometimes the name and logo are placed on the tank itself, but the Church thinks that is a little too showy.

The tank is plastered and painted after it is built. It really is quite neat and attractive.

At one stop there was a school and the children all came out to see what we were doing. In order to appreciate their facees, click on the picture to enlarge it and enjoy their expressions.

Do I look like I'm having fun?

The children are from three villages.

One of the three tanks was still under construction. Notice the wood scaffolding. It is not bamboo like that used in Hong Kong, but wooden pieces tied together to form the ladder. You have to be part monkey to work in construction in Asia. The worker is wetting the plaster that has been put on the cement as it cures.

Do you see the worker up on the cement arm?

After we visited this tank, we left for our three hour trip back to Bangalore. It was a full day, but we appreciated the work being done by the Fairbanks, the contractor and the NGO. The Fairbanks hope the project will be be completed before they leave in late March. This was the last project we visited in India. Our week long venture was filled with exciting days. Elder and Sister Fairbanks have been wonderful hosts to us. We flew all night to get back to Hong Kong Friday afternoon. We were glad to be back in our apartment in time for the Chinese New Year Sunday.