A Drought Relief Program for Maharashtra

The affected region (expanding as we speak)

Effects of drought at various levels Physical – Thirst, sanitation, irrigation, etc. Emotional – Stress, repeated exposure to the harshness of nature year after year Existential – Doubts in people’s minds, questions about worthiness of a water- deprived life

More than 2 crore people are suffering Over 11,000 villages affected Over 50% crops destroyed in 3500 villages Livestock dying

The Aid so far State demand Rs 1800 crores Central grant Rs 1200 crores

The Initiative

A holistic plan Art of Living plans a 3 step intervention: – Step 1: Spiritual – Step 2: Short term – Step 3: Long term

Step 1: Spiritual Intervention Engaging people’s spirit directly – Making people aware of their own resilience in such a crisis. – Use a mass contact medium such as prayer meetings to spread awareness about various things people can do to go through the crisis

Step 2: Short Term Interventions To provide water tankers in non-government aided areas – 1 Water Tanker = Rs 3,000 per day – This will be able to cater to 3,000-5,000 people in 3-4 villages Providing Syntex tanks of litres to keep water potable and contamination-free – One 2000 litre Syntex tank = Rs 10,000 – One 5000 litre Syntex tank =Rs 25,000

Step 2: Short Term Interventions Forest water recharging in Osmanabad Taluka – Recharging 20 water bodies in next 2 months – Forest recharge per Taluka would cost around 1-2 lakh rupees for next two months Cemented water tanks which would serve as water reservoirs for cattle to be built – Construction cost of 1 cattle tank = Rs 3,500

Constructions of drinking water facilities called Pyau in cities in 10 places – Infrastructure includes 6 pots of drinking water and one person – Cost per Pyau= Rs 3,500 – Per 10 Pyau = Rs 35,000 Awareness rallies with school children promoting water conservation Step 2: Short Term Interventions

Step 3: Long Term Interventions Deepening of existing water bodies by de-silting. Repair of check dams Kolhapur Types (K.T) Weir Gates Replenishing water in existing bore wells – Replenishing cost per bore well = Rs 5,000

Rooftop water harvesting – Cost per 500 sq.ft. rooftop = Rs 5,000 Water harvesting using continuous contour trenches – Cost per village for contour trenches = Rs 5 lakh per km Installation of bio sanitising ecological treatment plant in every house for treating sewage water – Cost per plant in one house = Rs 5,000-Rs 10,000 Awareness campaign for water harvesting and efficient use Step 3: Long Term Interventions

The Other Side You are a business owner The people out there are your consumers

Associate with them at the level of their concerns On every Rupee of your brand that a consumer buys, donate X paise for the Maharashtra Drought Relief

Indians for India This way, Indian consumers of all shapes and sizes will automatically contribute to the cause And adequate awareness will be generated about an issue that otherwise might become a page 7, 20 col cm news item

How could you help Cheque in favour of – Account name-VVKIMAB – Account number – IFSC- ICIC – Nariman point branch 80G will be provided for amounts greater than Rs. 5000

Thank You