One positive change helps people in thinking of resolving other problems, facing the lesser privileged. This was observed in several urban and rural localities in Nagpur district.

 

Initiative of Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule in installing 111 Water ATM to supply purified drinking water has not only helped in reducing health problems, but also provided revenue generating activities for Women’s Self Help Groups.

 

The water borne diseases like dysentery, diarrhoea, jaundice, thyroidism, cholera, leptospyrosis, worms, skin disease etc have reduced to a great extent. The health record of Primary Health Centres indicate drastic reduction in these health problems in villages where Water ATM have been installed. Bawankule achieved this effectively using the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Funds. Thus the state government gained double benefit of saving money on providing pure drinking water and also reducing expenditure on health problems, The statistics available with Rite Water Solutions, which has installed the Water ATM, is a proof of the benefits reaped by the villagers. Although, because of drought situation in about five villages, Water ATM have lost perennial source of water, the problem is temporary.

 

In Nagpur urban area Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Jaitala, Trimurti Nagar NIT Garden, Jogi Nagar are doing well with the new venture. After paying the maintenance cost, the SHGs are earning handsomely. Jogi Nagar SHG has also undertaken business of supply water cans on commercial basis, after meeting requirement of the local people. They have borrowed a vehicle for transporting the cans.

 

The water ATMs have facility to dispense 1 ltr, 5 ltr and 20 ltr water. The best part of it is that water is not allowed to be wasted. If a customer comes with 10 ltr or 15 can. The client pays for 20 ltrs. The remaining water is collected by the SHG and made available free of cost to passersby. Most of them are students going to college or tuition and labourers working in the area.

 

Rite Water Solution provided free maintenance services for one year from the date of installation. The SHG has to pay for the maintenance from the revenue generated. At the time of installation 100 ATM cards worth Rs 100 and water cans were distributed free of cost.

 

In many villages pure water is available for marriage or other functions. earlier the commercial rate for a 20 ltr can was Rs 40 to Rs 45. That too the purity was not guaranteed. Now certified pure water is available in less than half of the price.

 

The SHG members in Trimurti Nagar, Jaitala and Khamla stated that they work for about two hours at the Water ATM turn by turn. The ATM cards with them are used for the customers.

 

The revenue is likely to be higher during the coming monsoon season. The water borne diseases are very high during this season. The villagers are also being trained by Rite Water Solution personnel in maintenance of the machine and also keep the premises clean. This would avoid contamination of the water in the source. The water quality is better than the bottled packaged drinking water available at the rate of Rs 20 per ltr. There are only a few ATMs, where the facility is not being utilised to its potential. They are expected to learn from the examples of the adjoining villages or localities.

 

Bawankule has announced that these machines will be installed in all the villages in the district. Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar also has made similar announcement and order for installation of 50 ATMs in the first phase has already been issued, for Chandrapur region. Impact assessment in the villages and urban localities is being done on a regular basis.