In 2018, D9570 was the major sponsor of a US$54,000 Global Grant for the construction of a Check-dam in Southern Rajasthan, in a partnership with the Rotary Club of Delhi Megapolis.

The purpose of the dam is to catch water from the monsoon rains which falls on the nearby hills and just disappears downstream with very little benefit to the local area. The Khakha Wala Dam was number 9 in a large Indian Government supported and planned program for many such Check-dams in Rajasthan. D9570 and D9550 both contributed to a subsequent Global Grant of US$85,000 for the construction of two more of these Check-dams.

As rivers go dry, and temperatures climb, environmentalists predict that freshwater may be the most critical issue of the 21st century. Since 2010, Rotary Dream Teams have come from around the world to work on water conservation projects in the heart of India, to increase groundwater levels in arid areas. Centuries of failed crops had crushed the will of the local people to participate in projects for the general good of their communities. Rotarians’ hands-on participation, as well as the success of these projects, has changed the defeatist perception. Each dam has a cascading effect on the well-being of communities. Improvement in health, literacy, and education in women and children has followed economic growth.

Check-dams, once built, do not need recurring maintenance costs. With one masterstroke, these projects strike at the core of social deprivation to provide sustainable incomes, sanitation and health, education, and equal opportunity.

Wonderful Rotary friendships were formed when Judith Henderson and Craig Edmonston met Rotarian Sanjiv Saran in India on a National Immunisation Day in November 2004. They returned in 2005 to work on a Tsunami reconstruction project in Pondicherry, again organised by Sanjiv, who had then formed a relationship with Rotarian Elias Thomas from the USA on another building project. In 2010 Sanjiv and Elias were introduced to the Check-dam program, resulting in Elias setting up “The Rotary Dream Team” concept which has since brought together Rotarians from across the world through hands-on involvement in the program. A number of Rotarians from D9560 have participated, and once travel returns to normal, will do so again.

The Check-dam benefits are many and include:

· Higher groundwater table

· Improved crop yield – three crops per year instead of one

· Healthier livestock

· Increased family income

· Recharge of defunct wells within each village

· Less time for women to fetch water from distant wells

· Time for gainful employment for women – more income

· Children complete school – no need to start earning at very young age

The Khakha Wala Dam wall is 325 ft across and holds 8.75 million cu ft and now supplies fresh drinking water to 9 villages which are connected only by foot pathways. The experience of travelling to the project and working for 4-5 days carrying rocks, cement, and sand, and interacting with the most grateful locals who do not understand English, is Rotary at its absolute best, according to Judith and Craig. The Rotary Foundation allows Rotarians to have this experience while creating change.

Judith Henderson February 2022