ImageI would like to thank those of you who have attended Murali Ramisetty’s presentation recently at our club. As many of you have requested, attached is the slide presentation that Ramisetty showed. Click here for photos at this event. Click here for photos of usage of water backpacks and safe water plants that I visited in Warangal on my previous visit to India.

            Murali Ramisetty is a full-time social worker, heading MARI (Modern Architects of Rural India) and FAN SA (Freshwater Action Network of South Asia) NGOs. Of the many social work programs that he/MARI are involved in, I am keen on the “safe water plants/water purification systems.” He/MARI have installed 39 such plants and are planning to set up more in AP. Here are some reasons we should be interested:

1.      Having executed one social work program in Warangal through Murali/MARI, which is the distribution of 300 free water backpacks to tribal villagers, I am convinced with the efficacy/integrity/sincerity of MARI. They have lower overheads and a dedicated team, headed by a passionate social worker, Murali. Either through our Rotary or Tony Somers of PackH20 & Grief, we are planning to send another batch of water backpacks to tribal villagers near Warangal, India

2.      Proven technology (Reverse Osmosis) and backed by US based Safe Water Network (SWN) NGO

3.      These safe water plants are self-sustaining ventures, with 20L of purified water being sold at Rs. 4

4.      Water is purified indigenously in a village, as opposed to buying commercial grade and expensive purified water

5.      This provides a long-term solution to various diseases borne throiugh drinking polluted water

Depending on our budget and other international projects that we are and will be involved in 2014, we can consider funding such safe water plants in India through Murali/MARI. As discussed earlier, we can consider reaching out to other Rotary clubs in our District for funding and participation.

I am also reached out to my friends of Indian origin in Columbus and Hyderabad, to consider sponsoring such plants in their ancestral villages in India. I myself am planning to sponsor one plant in my parent’s birth place/village in India and have verbal commitments from some of my high-school friends to do the same.

Together, we in Rotary can benefit an area that desperately needs our help.