For years the village of Raghuban relied on the same pond for fishing, swimming, and drinking water.

INDIA – It’s another hot afternoon in the village of Raghubhan. Thick green forest surrounds the white-walled buildings that 500 people call home.

Bhudan is taking a walk.

The middle-age, mother-of-three gave up work as a day laborer when her medical problems grew worse. Her husband, Shamu, earns a meager wage in the fields nearby.

In years past, Bhudan would take her children to the village pond to wade, swim and play. On the outside the water looks inviting – bright green plants float on the surface, and the fish stock sparkles, ready for harvest.

Until recently, this pond served as the village's main source of drinking water.

"Many times we sacrificed our food for the sake of our children's health," said a father whose family was frequently made ill by poor water quality.

"We felt this pond was a natural source of water for our village, and a gift from creation," Bhudan said. "It quenched our thirst."

Meanwhile, villagers were regularly falling ill but medical treatment in the next village was too costly for the impoverished people.

"It cost me too much to take my family members seven miles to the next village for treatment," Shamu remembers. "Many times we sacrificed our food for the sake of our children's health."

The couple recalls the day an Operation Blessing team emerged from the surrounding jungle of Sidhi. After surveying the situation, the team told villagers about waterborne sickness and disease and made a committment to drill a water well for the village.

"We never realized this water could be the major cause of sickness and poverty in our lives," said Bhudhan, a mother of three. "Now we realize the importance of potable water."

"We never realized this water could be the major cause of sickness and poverty in our lives," Bhudhan said. "We used to get water bugs, caddis flies, and mosquito larvae in our water, and I would remove it by hand, thinking this must be very common. Now we realize the importance of potable water."

At the dedication ceremony for the new water well, the village surrounded the team and thanked them. With their newfound health and knowledge, life has begun to change in Raghubhan.

"You have protected our village," said Bhudan, holding her younger daughter in her arms. Thank you."

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Help break the cycle of suffering by giving toward Operation Blessing's water wells and cisterns program. A gift of $1,000 can drill a well for villages and supply families with safe, clean drinking water.

 

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