In the small village of Majhauliya, nestled in the Muzaffarpur, Bihar near the Indo-Nepal border, access to clean and sustainable water had long been an uphill battle. For years, residents struggled with irregular payment of water tariffs and unchecked wastage, threatening the very sustainability of their piped water system. The infrastructure existed, but the sense of ownership did not.
Among those who saw this problem unfold up close was 46-year-old Tohid Anwar. As an Anurakshak (a community-appointed caretaker responsible for maintaining and managing the village’s piped water supply system), Tohid’s task was to ensure smooth distribution and fair use of water. But it was a lonely job when people failed to see the value of what they had. “I used to wonder if things would ever change,” he recalls. “People didn’t see why paying or saving water mattered. It felt like I was working alone.”
That sense of isolation began to fade when Tohid joined ECHO sessions conducted through the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India). These interactive sessions brought together water champions, Anurakshaks, and community leaders from across several states, creating a shared space for learning through case discussions and collective problem-solving. “When I first joined, I mostly listened,” he says. “But soon, I realized that others were facing the same issues. That gave me the courage to speak and act.”
Through these sessions, Tohid discovered strategies that had worked elsewhere—community-led measures, awareness drives, and transparent monitoring systems. Inspired by what he learned, he decided to act. He began organizing Jal Chaupals—open community gatherings where villagers could discuss local water issues, learn about conservation, and understand the importance of paying tariffs. He followed this by leading awareness rallies and forming village monitoring groups that encouraged accountability, tracked usage, and promoted responsible practices.
Within months, the change was visible. “Once people saw how much was being wasted, they started caring,” Tohid says. Nearly 80% of households began paying their water bills regularly, and wastage declined sharply. What had once seemed an impossible task had transformed into a proud, community-led success story.
Today, Tohid is far more than an Anurakshak. The man who once hesitated to speak during online sessions now mentors others across Bihar, guiding them through similar challenges. He is a motivator, a teacher, and a symbol of how local leadership can evolve through digital and case-based learning. “Earlier, I thought only engineers or officers could bring change,” he says. “Now I know it starts with us.”
From a quiet participant to a confident changemaker, Tohid’s journey reflects the power of shared learning and collective action. His story is a reminder that when communities are trusted and knowledge flows freely, even the most persistent challenges can be transformed into enduring progress.