Pollution caused by accumulation of municipal waste, pesticides used in agriculture, and other human activities has resulted in a crisis of availability of safe drinking water for communities living near Loktak Lake in Manipur, the largest freshwater lake in North-East India. This forces communities, especially women, to struggle daily to collect drinking water for their families or to even buy potable water at huge costs.

In November 2018, we had made an appeal for donations to support the community here. We are pleased to share that as a result of the response, a water filtration plant was successfully installed in Kwasiphai village of the state’s Bishnupur district on April 11. Our ally, People’s Resource Development Association (PRDA), recently handed over this fully operational filtration unit to the community. Pumping water from a nearby pond, this water filtration plant, with a capacity of 2,000 litres, filters it into clean drinking water. You would be delighted to learn that this unit is now benefitting 60 households in the village, thereby providing safe drinking water to nearly 300 people; and they are happy!

“Amid childcare responsibilities, it used to be difficult for mothers like me to fetch water from far-off places. Family members could not support us much in fetching water either, due to their preoccupations with other engagements, nor could we afford to buy potable water. Such units are very helpful for mothers like me,” shares the 32-year-old A. Nanao Devi. “After installation of this filtration unit, we do not have to buy drinking water anymore. It is very useful for the poor villagers. I now conveniently fill my water bottle from this unit and carry it to the field where I work,” adds A. Piyari Devi, 41.

We, at ActionAid Association, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all supporters who generously donated towards this cause. We would like to inform you that we plan to set up similar water filtration plants in other villages of Bishnupur district too that are facing this crisis. And for that, we need your support! DONATE NOW. Your contributions can go a long way in ensuring the communities in Manipur get convenient access to safe drinking water.