India, ranked 132nd out of 193 countries in the UN’s Human Development Index,1 is the most populous nation in the world. In rural India, over 73 million people lack access to clean water within a 30-minute collection trip2 and 1.35 billion remain unreached by the gospel.3
India
INDIA BY THE NUMBERS
1.417
billion
national population of India
73
million
people living in rural India lack access to clean water within a 30-minute collection trip
228
million
people in rural India lack access to adequate sanitation facilities
95.3%
of the population is unreached. neverthirst partners mobilize local pastors and churches to work alongside water projects while they introduce the life-changing message of the gospel
India
The Crisis
Our research identified 13 districts in north India where the need for access to clean water in isolated rural communities is very high. The districts were chosen based on the following:
The daily burden of water collection
In the dry season, existing sources run dry and average collection time can exceed one hour per trip. Many families collect water at least two to three times per day.
Prioritizing the most remote and interior villages
where water supply programs are not reaching and no other organization is active in addressing water supply.
Disease
Lack of clean drinking water leads to an increase in preventable diseases that can have serious health effects on children who lack access to medical care.
DO SOMETHING
Fund a Project in
India
Serve an entire community or school with clean and living water. Projects range in cost depending on the region, project type, and amount of people served.
OUR MISSION IN INDIA
Serving the Unreached
In our target regions, churches are isolated and scattered with little connection to each other or the wider community. Local pastors and believers often face significant persecution for sharing their faith.
Even so, many are eager to participate in the provision of clean water for communities in need. In doing so, we’ve seen Christians gain credibility and trust, opening doors for faith conversations and the ability to plant home groups among the unreached. Our partner also supports and equips pastors with skills related to evangelism, counseling, conflict management, family care, and justice. All of these components help pastors gain access to closed-off communities so they can share the good news of Jesus.
CLEAN & LIVING WATER IN INDIA
Our Plan
With your help, access to clean and living water will be provided to more than 45,000 people in the hardest to reach communities across 13 districts by June 2029. You can make it possible to see:
450
communities gain access to clean drinking water through hand pumps and mechanized boreholes
30
schools with access to clean drinking water, hand washing facilities, and functioning toilets
Local
communities trained to operate and maintain water points
110
pastors, evangelists, and local believers mobilized to participate in WASH programs as an access point to share the gospel with unreached communities
SOURCES:
2 Definition: If the trip to collect from an improved water source takes 30 minutes or less, it is classified as a basic drinking water service. If water collection from an improved source exceeds 30 minutes it is categorized as a limited service.
Stories from India
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