It’s a bit difficult to keep this blog updated on everything interesting we’re doing, but we’re trying our best! Today we have our newest employee, Bindu, who is running operations in Bangalore (yes, we’re actually working in Bangalore now), writing about her experiences/our progress thus far.
Where do I start?
For someone who had spent 9 years enjoying the centralized AC, freq cafeteria visits, chit-chats (most frequently discussed were traffic jams, where is our country heading? kind of interesting topics..;))
The pilot in bangalore has made me go through ‘A hell of an experience’ (of course in good sense 
)
Right from searching for the water tank in the area we first visited (I remember how me and Anu were asking every other person on the street if he knows where the water tank is.. no one seems to know and they gave strange expressions.. like why are these two girls so desperately looking for a water tank after all!) to sitting across the table with top BWSSB (Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board) officials explaining the outcomes of our pilot and astonishing them
We got the necessary permissions from BWSSB to carry out the pilot in Bandappa Garden NE1 sub-division and Bhoopasandra NE3 sub-division (Of course it was as simple as that! 
). We trained the valveman, enrolled people for our service and started monitoring the notifications. 4 weeks down the line, taking feedback from customers was so much fun – they totally loved us! 
)
Bhoopasandra was even more interesting. To bring in a seriousness in the valveman to notify us of every supply was a challenge (he thought it was OK if he forgot to let us know?!) Other than 11 Unscheduled supplies, it was fascinating to see that he was supplying water to the area every day continuously for 15 days!! And no one seem to know about it. When our reports reached the Engineers, initially they denied that was true and when we confirmed it was actually true, they gave us a ‘oh’ look. I know for sure that they have inquired into it, the valveman got back on track following supply schedules (took so much to convince them that a lot happens under their nose!)
We have not been able to arrive at a conclusion but here are some speculations at a high level..
a. Could be political pressure.. since the elections are round the corner?
b. Someone from the area pays him to open the valves for them?
c. He lives there? (actually No, he doesn’t)
d. He might simply be trying to impress us? Wants to show he is doing a good job?Well end of this luxurious supply period, on one end we have the Engineers with surprised expressions and on the other hand residents complaining that the supply was great and now its gone bad (No no! trust me! they mean that its only alternate days now!)Summarizing the study: The board faces a challenge in coordinating within its various levels and effectively communicating with its consumers. This gives us a great opportunity to make a difference. With due respect to the enormous task the board has, to supply water to the monstrously growing city, we think that slightest of the change in the way the supplies are currently administered can bring in a drastic improvement in the system. And we want to help them and be the instrument for change and move india forward!