Mission Paani: One well for over 800 people in UP's Kol village!

More than 800 people in Uttar Pradesh's Kol Village depend on a well for drinking water. Using a toilet or taking a shower could mean measuring 4 kms to reach a pond, which is mostly dry through the summer.

The village's only hand pump gives water with extremely high iron content, hence red in colour.  Many children are malnourished as the diet of ‘namak-roti’ doesn't help in the absence of water.

Women of the village — self-appointed 'Jal Rakshaks' — barely sleep, as they sit near the well all night.

35-year-old Asha Devi's day includes three trips to fetch water, each taking a minimum of 3 hours. The rest of her day is a struggle too as she goes to the jungle to collect firewood and then walks 8 kms carrying 20 kilos of firewood to sell. She gets paid a meagre Rs 30 for one stack.