Handpumps in the Himalayas for the first time

The Kassar Trust has a history of beginning new development projects with a village-level organization, the Samiti. The projects are first made socially acceptable by encouragement and strengthening of the Samitis before any technical planning is begun. Programs such as solar lighting, rainwater harvesting tanks, nursery schools and many more have been successfully introduced and implemented by this method. The Samitis organize and manage the entire project, which is constructed and installed by local village level teams, the Jal Karmis. The Trust has demonstrated that handpumps can be used over 2000 feet above the river level, using small seepage zones as a water source. Modifications to a direct seepage source include pumping vertically up to 60 meters, or using gravity systems from the infiltration well to lower lying villages. This paper outlines the methodologies, training and the cohesive structure of the Samities for this new water project.