Illustrative example from Thunakalan village

In April 2002, Thunakalan Panchayat received a bill of Rs. 5,000 for its tubewell water supply, but expressed itself unable to pay. Shanta Bai, a day labourer and member of the local women’s group heard of the matter and raised it in the group’s meeting. The women decided that a maintenance system had to be organized. They approached the authorities and managed to get a village assembly called. At the meeting, it was decided that each user family would pay Rs. 10 or US$ 0,22 per month to cover the estimated maintenance costs. Fifteen members with a house connection agreed to pay Rs. 30 or US$ 0,65 each month.

Payments are collected together with the electricity bills. It was also decided to switch on the pump for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. A tailor shop nearby monitors the operation of the pump and reports when there are problems. The fund is sufficient for operation and maintenance and periodic repairs. Encouraged by this success, the village has made a proposal for the extension of the scheme to the unserved parts of the community and submitted it to the Public Health Engineering Department for resources under the reform programme for the domestic water supply sector.