Restoring Water Access and Dignity in Ghodekhur Village

Ghodekhur village in Kej Taluka of Beed district, Maharashtra, has a population of 263 and is primarily inhabited by families from the historically marginalized Gopal community. Located in a hilly region with limited economic opportunities, nearly 95% of the villagers migrate every year between October and April for sugarcane harvesting work. With families migrating together, children often accompany their parents, which disrupts their schooling and learning. In addition to livelihood challenges, the village struggled with a chronic shortage of drinking water. There was no organized water supply system, forcing women to travel long distances to collect water from scattered and unreliable sources in surrounding areas. This daily task consumed a large portion of their time and energy, while the absence of a stable water source also affected livestock, which are an important part of rural livelihoods.

To address this long-standing challenge, Janvikas Samajik Sanstha developed a community drinking water system in the village. A well measuring 34 ft × 53 ft was constructed and reinforced with concrete, with a water storage capacity of approximately 1,362,061 litres. A storage tank measuring 12 ft × 10 ft with a capacity of around 32,013 litres was built, and a pipeline network of approximately 1,660 feet was installed to distribute water across the village through standposts. An additional 3,000-litre water tank was also installed, and a 5 HP electric pump with wiring and starter system was set up to lift water efficiently from the well to the storage tank. With the completion of this intervention, Ghodekhur village now has reliable access to drinking water within the community. The system has reduced the burden on women, improved access to safe water for households, and ensured that livestock also have access to water, strengthening both daily life and local livelihoods.