A family of 15 people have acknowledged the assistance provided to them by the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation.

Mataiasi Navusolo, 57, of Saweni, Lautoka, felt privileged when Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Veena Bhatnagar visited his home after a request he made a month ago for a water tank.

Mr Navusolo has been living in Saweni for the past five years and has not had any direct water supply because he could not afford to pay for the metre and plumbing work done by the Water Authority of Fiji.

For those years his neighbours have supplied water.

Mr Navusolo said that a month ago he had made a request for a water tank to the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation after which Ms Bhatnagar had visited his home.

He said that he was advised to write a letter if he wanted a water tank which he did and after two weeks he was advised that his request was approved.

The 5200-litre water tank was delivered to his home on July 29 and as promised by Ms Bhatnagar, the first volume of water would be filled in the tank for free once a proper place was made for the tank.

“I am grateful for the big gift given to my family. I am thankful to the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation for helping us,” Mr Navusolo said.

Mr Navusolo lives in a two-bedroom farmhouse with his wife, five daughters, their husbands, grandchildren and his son.

“My wife is a house girl at my neighbour Pene Were’s house and he would allow us to do our washing there and he also allowed my family to shower at his house,” said Mr Navusolo.

Ms Bhatnagar said: “With the help of LDS Church I was able to collect the funds to provide Mr Navusolo’s family with a water tank.”

She said she would be visiting the family today.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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