In Ferozepur Meo village in the Mewat district of Haryana, the villagers:
- Do not have access to clean drinking water
- Have to walk for miles (even children!) to fetch water
- Are compelled to use the contaminated, brackish water available in the village to meet their daily needs
- This makes their hair, body and clothes itchy and sticky, as if covered with salt
- This also causes serious he
alth hazards such as diarrhoea, increased blood pressure, teeth abnormalities, and even brain damage in extreme cases
We spent a large proportion of our summer break in the village to understand the challenges faced by the villagers. Guided by the overarching framework of Sustainable Development Goal 6 of the United Nations to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all, and in line with the tGELF guidelines, we were determined to find effective solutions. What started off as a school project developed into a commitment to help out. Our experiences and interactions in Ferozepur Meo moved us - Sia Bishnoi (class 11) and Taahira Bhalla (class 9) of The Shri Ram School (Moulsari) - to launch Project Drakht, an intervention plan that seeks to provide easy access to clean drinking water to the residents of Ferozepur Meo village. Following extensive research, we identified two interventions:
1. Solar pump and storage tanks to help meet the minimum water requirement
2. Plantation drive of Drakht (Moringa Olifeira) trees in the village as the seeds from this "miracle tree" easily and inexpensively helps to purify water
We have solicited help for the implementation of the project from the Foundation of Agricultural Resources Management and Environmental Remediation (FARMER), a not for profit. Project Drakht aims to provide the villagers of Ferozepur Meo with a life of dignity through access to clean drinking water. This goal cannot be realised without your support. We urge you to be generous in your contribution to this cause, so that we can reach our goal of raising Rs 6 lakhs for this project. Every contribution will make a significant difference. Primary details of Project Drakht are enclosed with this letter. For further information and updates, please visit our page (fb link). Should you have any queries regarding the project, you can contact us at:
[email protected] and [email protected]
'We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.'
- Winston Churchill
The people of Ferozepur Meo will be truly grateful for your faith and support in our mission.