The Gujarat Health Improvement Programme has been implemented, in collaboration with the Aga Khan Foundation for a period of three years from 23rd December 2002 to 22nd December 2005. The objective of this project was to improve the health and living conditions of rural communities - especially women, children and the socially disadvantaged - in fourteen villages of Junagadh and Patan districts of Gujarat.

In each village, the project was implemented in four stages – preparation, implementation, commissioning and handing-over. At each stage there has been close consultation with an elected village committee, which was also responsible for collecting community contributions and for receiving training in maintenance and repair. ‘Ownership’ of the new facilities by the village communities is expected to ensure sustainability of this project.

The project has been able to positively impact the lives of 4,900 families by ensuring access of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. The contribution from JICA was about Rs. 90 Lakhs and this has been utilized mainly towards construction, personnel and capacity-building costs