Drinking water is very scarce in Nokna. Currently, women are walking up to 2 hours, over very hilly terrain, to collect water 2 to 3 times a day. When they arrive, they have to wait in long lines to obtain enough water for family use as the existing handpump well runs out of water and takes 30 to 60 minutes to recharge.

Tina and the Times Square Arts Center has partnered with Nokna to repair and deepen the primary well in Nokna by 20 feet. Her project will give families better access to drinking and cleaning water and alleviating the strain put on existing water resources. A parapet safety barrier and a pulley system will also be constructed in order to ensure women and children are able to safely collect water from the well.

Nokna, a rural village in Rajasthan, India, was established 180 years ago when villagers from Dojha Talaya migrated to the dense forest area that is now Nokna. They dug deep pits as shelter, which gradually became huts made from dry branches and leaves. Today, homes are made of mud bricks and roof tiles but are still very temporary structures.

Hunting was the villagers’ main form of livelihood and it now relies on farming and animal husbandry (raising cattle, goats, and other livestock for milk and other byproducts). However, the area is very arid and drought prone. Drinking water for humans and animals is limited and irrigation water is almost non-existent.

The villagers migrated to Nokna to in hopes of alleviating their water problem and hoping access to better water resources would reduce their need to migrate.

Community member details not available yet.

Direct Impact of Your Project

More than 55 families will have access to a cleaner, more reliable water supply, and the amount of time and frequency women will need to travel for water will be reduced.

Availability of water for drinking and washing will dramatically improve village health and sanitation.

Extended Impact on Your Partner Community

A deeper well will allow for more water to be stored during the monsoon season and saved for use during the dry season. In addition, this well repair and deepening project will supply water for bathing and cleaning as well as drinking water for cattle and other livestock.

Women can save 4-6 hours a day of traveling long distances to obtain water, and can use the time saved earn extra income for their families.