12 Reaching the Last Mile—Technology Solutions and Models for …
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water was not safe. Also, the perception of safe water is closely tied to appearance, taste and smell. The families who opted for safe water, bought water from
the local RO vendor. In order to encourage behaviour change, several promotional activities were conducted using street plays, door-to-door visits, leaflets,
posters and banners containing information regarding the possible impacts on
health by drinking contaminated water and highlighting key features of Swach
filters.
• Designing robust business models and entrepreneurship development for
Supply Chains: Discovering and nurturing entrepreneurship is not an easy task,
more so in areas where women are not considered at par with men. Initial efforts
of recruiting women as LEU, who have experience in promoting safe drinking
water or similar schemes showed grim results due to their unavailability and time
constraints to undertake additional work. Another major barrier was that most
women were accustomed to the idea of a fixed monthly salary. Commissionbased and target-driven work was outside their comfort zone. This can in part be
attributed to the lack of confidence and risks involved in reaching out to communities and creating enough demand for water filters for the business to be profitable. They were unconvinced by arguments that this micro-entrepreneurship
would provide long-term benefits. Thus, only two women eventually managed
to take up the role of LEUs.
• Responding to the above challenge, the team widened the pool of people suited as
LEUs including teachers, doctors and NGOs in the area. In Madanpur Khadar, a
local NGO ‘Sunshine’ and ‘Social Welfare Society’ and Pradhan from the local
village-level committee were identified for encouraging activities in the area.
However, owing to technological and area specific challenges, involvement of
these stakeholders also could not bring appreciable results in the activity. In
Ambedkar Colony, the rollout of the model has shown appreciable results in
a short span of on-field activity. This was due to the involvement of Pradhan of the village, who provided on-field assistance. This support essentially
helped in strengthening engagement with the community and building up their
confidence for the on-going activity in the area. Moreover, lessons from experiences at Madanpur Khadar helped in formulating strategy and initiating work at
Ambedkar Colony as the work here started in succession of Madanpur Khadar.
12.2.3.2 Piloting Microfinance-Inclusive LEU Model in Bundelkhand
Learning from the lessons in Delhi, a modified version of the LEU model with
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and local NGOs was piloted in few remote villages of
Chattarpur, and Hamirpur districts of Bundelkhand region in Central India. The
financial barrier was overcome by engagement with the local women SHGs, who
supported the community through microfinance loans for purchasing the filter. The
technological barriers were addressed through selection of the location with low-TDS
levels.
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water was not safe. Also, the perception of safe water is closely tied to appearance, taste and smell. The families who opted for safe water, bought water from
the local RO vendor. In order to encourage behaviour change, several promotional activities were conducted using street plays, door-to-door visits, leaflets,
posters and banners containing information regarding the possible impacts on
health by drinking contaminated water and highlighting key features of Swach
filters.
• Designing robust business models and entrepreneurship development for
Supply Chains: Discovering and nurturing entrepreneurship is not an easy task,
more so in areas where women are not considered at par with men. Initial efforts
of recruiting women as LEU, who have experience in promoting safe drinking
water or similar schemes showed grim results due to their unavailability and time
constraints to undertake additional work. Another major barrier was that most
women were accustomed to the idea of a fixed monthly salary. Commissionbased and target-driven work was outside their comfort zone. This can in part be
attributed to the lack of confidence and risks involved in reaching out to communities and creating enough demand for water filters for the business to be profitable. They were unconvinced by arguments that this micro-entrepreneurship
would provide long-term benefits. Thus, only two women eventually managed
to take up the role of LEUs.
• Responding to the above challenge, the team widened the pool of people suited as
LEUs including teachers, doctors and NGOs in the area. In Madanpur Khadar, a
local NGO ‘Sunshine’ and ‘Social Welfare Society’ and Pradhan from the local
village-level committee were identified for encouraging activities in the area.
However, owing to technological and area specific challenges, involvement of
these stakeholders also could not bring appreciable results in the activity. In
Ambedkar Colony, the rollout of the model has shown appreciable results in
a short span of on-field activity. This was due to the involvement of Pradhan of the village, who provided on-field assistance. This support essentially
helped in strengthening engagement with the community and building up their
confidence for the on-going activity in the area. Moreover, lessons from experiences at Madanpur Khadar helped in formulating strategy and initiating work at
Ambedkar Colony as the work here started in succession of Madanpur Khadar.
12.2.3.2 Piloting Microfinance-Inclusive LEU Model in Bundelkhand
Learning from the lessons in Delhi, a modified version of the LEU model with
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and local NGOs was piloted in few remote villages of
Chattarpur, and Hamirpur districts of Bundelkhand region in Central India. The
financial barrier was overcome by engagement with the local women SHGs, who
supported the community through microfinance loans for purchasing the filter. The
technological barriers were addressed through selection of the location with low-TDS
levels.