2006 Progress Report
The 2005 has been very active in our project activities. At the end of September, we have completed the first year of the new three-year CIDA supported sanitation program. During our twenty-year presence within the southern Mahabharat region, we have assisted 266 villages with the construction of drinking water systems. These villages represent a total of 4,486 households, all eligible to receive assistance with sanitation. Since the integration of the sanitation activity with the drinking water program ten years ago, we have devoted a lot of effort to the design of the latrines to make them not only permanent but also suitable for future addition of biogas plants for cooking. In spite of somewhat unfavorable weather conditions, we were still able to assist 374 households with latrine construction.
Since the southern Mahabharat is a roadless region, the foot trail represent major local infrastructures for transportation and communication. Thus the villagers also place a strong emphasis on their construction, as well as rehabilitation of trails damaged by landslides during monsoon rains. In connection with this activity, we have also assisted a number of destitute families with the rehabilitation of monsoon damaged fields.
Although, no new schools have been established within the region, we have also been quite busy in providing additional facilities to previously constructed schools. During our presence within the region, we have assisted with the construction of 32 primary schools. Although all schools initially had only three classrooms, with five grades being taught and greater awareness among parents to send their children to school, the increased enrolment in many school locations necessitated in the construction of additional classrooms. Since virtually all Mahabharat schools are located along steep hillsides, the villagers have been requesting the construction of fences to prevent accidents when the children play outside. Kitchen facilities for the teachers and additional sanitation were also among the supplementary facilities provided to existing school throughout the year.
Michael R. Rojik, Executive Director
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