Summary

Water is a fundamental human need. Each person on Earth requires at least 20 to 50 liters of clean, safe water a day for drinking, cooking, and simply keeping themselves clean. 

Rural Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu is an area where people have very little to no access to clean drinking water. Dependent on the public water supply, women of the families of rural Tiruchirappalli trek many kilometers back and forth, carrying home enough water to fulfill their daily needs. In several households, children often miss out on school, having to help their mothers carry water. Often, unable to gather enough fresh water, they are prey to illness. Furthermore, the situation is aggravated for residents with ailments such as Arthritis. 

Guardian is India's first and only microfinance institution with an exclusive focus on water and sanitation. Empowered by this drive, hundreds of mothers have come forward, sought these water loans, and gained access to clean drinking water within their homes. They now enjoy better health, productivity, and a good amount of savings. 

Despite these measures, there are scores of underprivileged women, children, and families in rural Tiruchirappalli for whom access to clean drinking water is still far-fetched. They are looking for a similar chance to fix their own water crisis and uplift their living conditions. 

Milaap, through its partnership with Guardian, is going to facilitate loans to these 142 women and their families to help them gain access to safe and hygienic source of water. Local partner Milaap provides a loan to Guardian which must be repaid within 24 months.