Meet Mr. Pancha Shahi, a newly re-trained Village Maintenance Worker from Simikot, Humla.
Shahi is 54 years old, a local resident of Simikot Rural Municipality ward no 7; Chauganfaya. For the past 6 years Shahi has worked as the care taker of the Chauganfaya drinking water scheme. However, he had received no technical training about maintenance and repair work.
During April and May the WASH unit of Simikot organized a 12 day Village Maintenance Worker (VMW) training for care takers at Simikot Rural municipality. The main objective of the training is to strengthen the capacity of the community to deal with minor repair and maintenance of the water schemes on their own. Two participants, a woman and a man, from each water supply scheme community supported by SUSWA participated in the training. They are then assigned to look after the scheme and are paid for their efforts.
Pancha Shahi is assigned the Chauganfaya drinking water scheme in Humla, which should serve 800 people in Simikot. The scheme is currently undergoing major rehabilitation with the support of SUSWA. For the continued functionality of the scheme (Read: access to water!), trained and skilled maintenance workers like Shahi, supported by funds and expertise at municipal level, are crucial.
Pancha Shahi shared that after the training his technical confidence has been increased.
From now on I can provide my service on the basis of technical skills thanks to the training said Shahi.
Listen to Shahi in the videos below or read more about current SUSWA progress in Simikot here -> April construction progress update from Humla
During April and May 2023, Village Maintenance Worker (VMW) training was also completed or ongoing in the municipalities of Mudkechula in Dolpa and Palata in Kalikot. See pictures of all the trainings below the video!
VMW training in Simikot in April-May 2023:
VMW training in Mudkechula, Dolpa in April 2023:
Ongoing VMW training in Palata, Kalikot in May 2023: