ANNOUNCEMENTS
Water, as we know, is critical for survival. It is as important a need as food, shelter and clothing and hence must be easily available, accessible and affordable to all. This study is an attempt to critically evaluate the water associated challenges in the rural villages of Budhni block of Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh. Budhni is home to two enormous apparel industries. The textile industry is considered not only a water guzzler but also water polluter. In addition, agriculture and household activities also demand high water consumption. This research is conducted to understand the ground realties with respect to water availability, accessibility, and quality: the parameters that define the water security of a region. In the five select villages of Budhni where water generation and accumulation rates are good enough to meet the irrigation and domestic needs, public perceptions of accessibility indicated that population found the supply to be inadequate.
As water and health are inextricably linked, it is also important to understand the sanitation and hygiene conditions that prevail in the villages. The second objective of the study therefore tries to collect public perceptions of sanitation and hygiene facilities and measures in place. These include the quality of drinking water available to the community, storage, and handling of water at the household level, solid and liquid waste management, In Household Latrine (IHHL) provision, and water literacy and awareness. Budhni was declared open defecation free (ODF) in 2016 yet from the research, it appears that a great part of its population is practicing open defecation till date.
Lastly, the third aspect of this study is to understand the gender roles and responsibilities in water. Women are the household providers of water. In case of an adversity such as drought or temporary unavailability of water, the burden to find alternate sources of water falls on women, which in many cases may be further away. It is a drudgery for the women and young girls as they have to travel long distances and in numerous rounds in order to fetch water. This impacts their mental and physical health negatively and takes up their productive time which they can use for care giving and economic activities. Furthermore, as the research brings up issues and challenges faced by women, it also understands their perceptions on the importance and barriers in women’s participation in management and governance of water.
Key Words: Water Quality, Accessibility, Availability, WASH, Women, Water Supply
