The Indian government has honored its pledge to ensure rural people across four Cambodian provinces get desperately needed access to clean water.
Rural Development Minister Ouk Rabun told an inauguration ceremony in Tbong Khmum that the $12m grant had been promised in 2011 at the request of the Cambodia government.
Mr. Rabun said as many as half of all people in rural areas still do not have access to clean water and providing it was vital to improving their health.
“Cambodia and India have a close relationship,” he said, adding that India provided grant aid and cooperated with Cambodia in many areas.
“We are both developing countries and many Indian people live in rural areas.
India will continue to provide assistance to Cambodia as you need it.” One man who attended yesterday’s ceremony was 62-year-old Chranh Rith, a villager from Tunlung commune, who celebrated the arrival of the hand pumps.
“Before I drank water from the well, river or creek,” he said.
“There was no hygiene.
The water was filthy and contained the faeces of cows and buffalos.
“Now I’m so happy us villagers can use these hand pumps.