Sombhai

An elderly woman lives a lonely and miserable life as there was no one to take care of her....

An elderly woman lives a lonely and miserable life as there was no one to take care of her. There was hardly any help for Sombhai at that age she should have ideally been taken care of, but she moves on with forgetting pain and distress.

Sombhai is 80 year old, lives in a mud-built home in Pipri village. Pipri is a drought prone village located in the Narnoor mandal of Adilabad district. The mandal was plagued due to acute shortage of drinking water. Safe and potable drinking water was the dire need of the region.

More than 400 people live in this village. Most of them depend on agriculture for their livelihood and it is also their main source of income. The village’s only source of drinking water is an open well which is been dry most of the time. The villagers were forced to travel everyday to a lake for most of their water needs which is about 7 kilometers away from the village. Moreover lake water is polluted and not fit for drinking as it is shared by animals also. Domestic animals like cattle; goats etc are lead to the lake every day of morning. The thirsty animals drink as much water needed to sustain for the whole day.

The villagers bring almost 2-3 barrels of water everyday depending upon the size of their family. They end up spending quality hours of the day collecting and transporting water on bullock carts loaded with water barrels. They hope that there would be an easier solution to the water problem.

Sombhai and her husband were living in this village since long time. They are very poor and belong to Gond tribe and speak Gondi language. They had no children. Both of them used to go for daily wage labor work and earn very meager amount. Her husband used to fetch water for household chores and also for cattle.

But Sombhai life had taken a very difficult turn when her husband passed away 25 years back.  From then on she has gone through very tough time and gave up the hope for a better living. She struggles very hard with her feeble hands to meet her daily requirements. She used to go for agriculture work every day, unmindful of her age and helplessness because she has to survive. She toiled to earn for her living, and even take care of the household chores including cleaning, washing, cooking.

But since past five years she became too weak. Her weak legs were too tender to bear the hardship of walking long distance to fetch water. She wished somebody could help her. She also used to beg for food and water from the local villagers to survive. Sometimes the villagers scold and reject to offer her food and water. She receives Rs.200/- every month old age pension from the Government.

OBI came to know about this village and the water problem faced by the villagers through the newspapers and from the local pastors and immediately a team rushed to their rescue. The team visited the village and drilled a bore well in ideal location that benefited more than 400 people. The pastor dedicated and prayed for the well that it may be a blessing too many villagers. The villagers were really happy and moved by the service of OBI. The newspaper journalist and media were also moved for the love and care shown by OBI team by providing the entire village access to safe and clean drinking water.

Sombhai along with the villagers were very happy for the hand pump. By seeing the poor condition of Sombhai the OBI team also helped her by providing necessary groceries, food items and clothing for her living. Her joy was evident in the thankfulness she expressed.

Sombhai along with the villagers was happy for the hand pump. The OBI team helped her by providing necessary groceries, food items and clothing for her living. Her joy was evident in the thankfulness she expressed.