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Rural risk revision

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Aabhas Sharma New Delhi
Last Updated : Feb 06 2013 | 6:31 AM IST
Water4life is a new scheme that hopes to solve the water contamination crisis in rural India.
 
Routinely, every year, thousands of people in villages die due to contaminated water, and not much has been done by the government or the people to improve the situation.
 
To solve the problem of contaminated water in rural areas, DSM, a biotechnology firm and Dhan Foundation, a charitable organsation have joined hands.
 
They have launched a scheme called Water4life under which low-cost water purifiers would be distributed in rural south India. So what exactly is Water4life scheme all about?
 
Water4life uses a pressurised filtration system in which water is poured into a 12 litre filter vessel and then the vessel is closed and brought under pressure with a hand pump. The best part is that no electricity is required and no storage of clean water either.
 
Says Aruna Bharti, executive in-charge, business intelligence, DSM, "This initiative is a part of our corporate social responsibility and we are hoping that this would help people living in rural areas."
 
The purifiers would be sold at an initial price of Rs 1,000, and DSM is hoping that four to five families would come together to buy the product as a combine for their collective use. "Depending on the popularity of the product," says Bharti, "we intend to train people and manufacture it in villages."
 
While Dhan Foundation will take the product to the various villages through its network. Says K P Bharathi, team leader, Dhan Foundation, "The main objective is to provide low cost water solutions to the people living in villages."
 
In the initial phase, the purifiers would be distributed mainly in south India and by the end of this year the product should be available across the country. DSM is relying on word-of-mouth publicity to promote the product while Dhan on its part will create awareness by giving product demonstrations in villages.
 
DSM is hoping to sell about 6,500 units by the end of this year. "We have kept a low target as this is not a profit-driven initiative and we would be happy to make a difference to a small number of people's lives," adds Bharti, hoping that people in rural areas are willing to adopt a device that could cut a large portion of their health risks out of their lives. Such safety is a latent need.

 
 

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First Published: Mar 16 2006 | 12:00 AM IST

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