When an important handpump stopped working in Keriabank at the end of February 2022, residents faced a drinking-water shortage just as summer approached. A repair coordinated through the Village Development Committee restored the supply and prompted a plan for future maintenance.
A small village with limited water options
Keriabank lies among forest and hills, around 15 kilometres from the Tisri block headquarters. Access depends on unpaved roads and footpaths. The case study recorded 32 households in the village, many dependent on mica collection.
The village's two wells tended to dry before summer. Of its three handpumps, one supplied water residents described as salty and unsuitable for drinking. Many families therefore depended on the pump that later broke down.
Agreeing on a repair and future upkeep
Initial discussions with local elected representatives did not produce a solution. Residents then raised the issue at a monthly Village Development Committee meeting and proposed seeking help from SPS.
The organisation agreed to arrange repairs through the Community Empowerment Project's provision for maintaining drinking-water and sanitation services. Alongside the immediate repair, staff encouraged the committee to consider how future breakdowns would be funded.
Residents agreed that households using the pump would contribute ₹10–₹20 towards a repair fund. The team contacted a mechanic, helped him reach the village and arranged for the damaged pump to be repaired.
A working water point again
The handpump began supplying water again, and villagers welcomed the return of a nearby source. The case study expected more than 20 households to benefit from the restored service. It also recorded one household using access to water to support a kitchen garden.
Residents thanked SPS and RMI for the support. The repair addressed an urgent problem, while the agreement on small household contributions offered a way to respond more promptly to future maintenance needs.
The experience underlines the value of keeping existing infrastructure working, with residents involved in both identifying the problem and planning for its upkeep.