Finding water is increasingly becoming difficult these days, thanks to the hot summer. With a lot of water sources drying out a lot of people especially in the rural areas are making the journey that sometimes stretches to kilometres to collect drinking water, that to multiple times a day. This is one struggle that 17-year-old Pavan Kumar from Shivamogga in Karnataka grew accustomed to seeing every day, his mother Nethravathi's daily struggle to collect drinking water. Nethravathi who worked at a printing unit during the day had to make several trips to the local well, about half a kilometre away. Due to poor financial condition the family couldn't afford to have a well dug near thier home.

But in February Kumar decided to take things into his own hand. “I decided to find a permanent solution for the problem by digging a well at the backyard of my house,” he said.

After consulting a local hydrology expert and identifying the right location, Kumar started digging.

The painstaking work went on for nearly 45 days, digging all by himself as the family couldn't afford to pay anyone to support him.

The Pondicherry University student had to take a 10 day break in March from his work to attend his exams.

Kumar resumed his work after his exams and on April 20, at a depth of 53 feet he found water.

“It was really hard to dig the rocky ground under the scorching sun. Finally, at the depth of 53 ft, when water oozed out, I was filled with a sense of fulfilment. After digging two more feet, I completed the work. I am happy that my mother now has respite from having to rush to the public well after coming home from work,” Pavan said.