Kundapur: In a remarkable incident, an elderly lady’s determination has helped a village to slove its water woes. A five member group of ladies, led by Laxmi Poojarthi, dug up a 52-foot deep well at Kundapur recently. As many as ten houses depend on the water derived from this well now.

60-year-old Laxmi took up the initiative in Viveknagar Colony of Amparu gram panchayat under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005. She along with four others took three and a half months to dig the well which is six-feet in width.

Amparu village was suffering from the dearth of drinking water during summer. The hand pumps available in the area were of no use as they too failed to provide clean drinking water in other seasons.

The gram panchayat has a pro vision of providing wells under the NREGA Act and of the wages paid, Rs 82,000 was used for installing rings inside the well. The cost of installing the rings overran and Laxmi spent Rs 40,000 from own pocket.

Laxmi who has been abandoned by her relatives after the death of her parents said that there was no one for her to call as family and it didn’t bother her. “I get my pension and if this small effort helps others, it’s worthwhile,” said the big-hearted Laxmi.

“Laxmi is a brave woman and a role model for all. The woman gave her entire savings for a public cause. She has done something extraordinary,” said the Amparu Gram Panchayat Vice-President, Kiran Hegde. He also stated that the GP had dug five wells and sunk 40 borewells in the area for providing water to about 188 families.