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Safe drinking water and sanitation in rural Madhya Pradesh

Rural communities in India are benefiting from access to safe drinking water thanks to Oxfam's Water for Survival Programme and WaterAid UK. Photo: Johnathan Rainford

This Oxfam project was based in very poor rural areas of Madhya Pradesh, where families depend on subsistence farming. Access to water, sanitation, healthcare and the most basic services is scarce.

The Oxfam Water for Survival Programme worked through WaterAid UK and local partner organisations to ensure safe drinking water for better health, providing sanitation facilities and hygiene education.

Villages and schools in Morena District, Madhya Pradesh are benefiting from:

• Materials to build two model roof water harvesting tanks as demonstration models
• Materials and expertise to install new borewells and handpumps
• Restoration of over 40 water points
• Materials and assistance to build latrines and soak pits
• Encourage the installation of 450 kitchen gardens and their replication
• Provide schools and pre-schools with safe water, sanitation blocks, educational wall paintings, and hygiene education training for teachers
• Provide community health and hygiene education, including funding of staff and equipment
• Build the capacity of communities to manage the project in the future through awareness and leadership training
• Ensure communities can maintain water supply sources by training caretakers and mechanics and providing spare parts and tools