Potable water is still a luxury in rural India where water-borne diseases are common. Devatikoppa or Jakatikoppa as it is popularly known, a small village in the Kotegangur Grama Panchayat limits of Shimoga district where water supply has been ‘streamlined’ and ‘channelised’, has turned into a learning centre of water literacy and awareness.

Like many other villages in the region, people of Devatikoppa suffered the pangs of chronic drought which hit the State from 2000-04. Female folk in the village were worst hit due to drought as they had to walk long distances to fetch potable water. Swajaladhara scheme was launched by the Union Government for institutionalising rural people’s efforts in water management and Devatikoppa was selected for the same in 2005-06.

In fact, a water supply project costing Rs 7.40 lakh was designed for the village. When it came to bearing 10 per cent of the expense of the scheme, many in the village were reluctant. However, after Zilla Panchayat officials convinced them about the importance of the scheme, many agreed to contribute.

The job of constructing a storage tank of 50,000 litre capacity and a pump house, and the laying of the main pipeline was assigned to a contractor.

A sanitation and water supply committee was constituted and representation for every community was provided in the same. The Swajaladhara scheme strengthened bonds among villagers as works like drawing sub-lanes were completed with voluntary labour. Now every house in the village has a tap. To ensure the economic use of water, the committee decided to install water-meters to every tap in the village. And, for the same, Rs 600 was collected from every household towards water connection and installation of meters. The committee was generous enough to offer water connection free of cost to a school, an anganwadi centre and four poor families in the village.

As gauge conversion work along Shimoga-Talaguppa railway lane is on, workers who have migrated from Andhra Pradesh and Raichur district are residing in make-shift tents in the outskirts of Devatikoppa. The committee has taken steps to ensure accessibility of water to these migratory labourers also.

According to Srinivas, treasurer of the Sanitation and Water Supply Committee, “Rs 30 is charged for 1,000 litres of water and an additional charge of Rs 20 for excess consumption. Average water consumption per family in the village is 1,500 litres per month. Water bill should be cleared before the 5th of every month and water connection will be disconnected in case of failure to clear the bill within 12th. Till date, there is not a single defaulter in the village.”

For Srinivas who has studied up to 4th standard, responsibility as treasurer of the committee has helped him realise his self-worth. “After completing my personal work, I will attend to the committee’s work. This is a service to the community and no member claims honourarium for the same,” he said.

Neelamma, a member of the committee who is also a member of the Grama Panchayat, said that regular water supply from 6 am to 8.30 am has helped women a lot who would otherwise have frequent fights over water.
Rain water harvesting has also been successfully adopted at the government primary school in the village. Residents of Devatikoppa have set an exemplary model in water conservation and the economic use of the same.