Port Victor in Gujarat’s Amreli district is known for its industrial humdrum and regular contributions to the country’s import and export revenue. This place has also been harbouring GHCL’s Salt Division for quite some time. India’s progress and modernisation are clearly visible in and across Gujarat’s Port Victor and any visitor would marvel at the benefits that the residents enjoy because of the area’s industrialisation. However, the story was not this encouraging a few kilometres off Port Victor in the same Amreli district. The coastal village of Chanch was battling a drinking water crisis before GHCL’s intervention.

Chanch’s water crisis through the life of Laduben

Laduben lives alone in Chanch. She is over 60 years of age, widowed, and has a son and a daughter. The son works as migrant labour and is hardly at home due to work. Laduben’s daughter, Manisha, is 19 years of age and married within the same village. Manisha’s proximity to Laduben allows her to check in on her mother from time to time and also help Laduben with a crucial necessity of daily life. Potable Water!

It is indeed ironic how a coastal village, surrounded by a vast ocean, suffers from a water crisis. Ocean water is not drinkable and Chanch was dependent on a potable water source nearly 2 km away from the village centre. Laduben couldn’t undertake this hike regularly, given her age, and she remained dependent on her daughter and neighbours for a regular supply of drinking water.

GHCL’s contribution and Manisha’s determination

Way before meeting with Laduben, GHCL was working with the people of Chanch to build an underground household water harvesting system for the village. We are contributing 50% of the project’s construction expense that will ensure clean drinking water to every household of Chanch. Manisha applied for the construction of a water harvesting tank for her home through this program and GHCL approved the same in no time at all.

When we arrived at Laduben’s house for field inspection, we found Manisha digging the pit required to construct the tank. She, with a shovel, had already dug up a 6-feet by 12-feet pit, alone. When we asked why she did not hire any help, her flat response was, “If we could afford help, my brother would not have to leave his mother alone and live elsewhere for work.”

GHCL constructed the water tank for Laduben. Today, she has a supply of clean drinking water right within her home. While thanking us, Manisha exclaimed that she could now live worry-free about her mother’s water crisis and spend more time with her in-laws. This humble family’s gratitude means the world to GHCL.

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Laduben’s dedicated daughter – Manisha