building knowledge & action on water quality in bihar · arsenic knowledge and action network...
TRANSCRIPT
Development Alternatives: Issues and Challenges in engaging
Community and Institutions in accessing Safe Drinking Water in Bihar
16th March 2017
Central University of South Bihar
Gaya
The issue…
• Ground water: major source of drinking water
• Preference to tube-wells, hand-pumps through programmes/projects/schemes
• Persistent drinking water quality problem in different geographies- arsenic- a ‘wicked’ contaminant in around 86 districts in India (CGWB)
• Associated health risks and impacts
• Major concern
Solution and Approach
• What does the solution hint at?– Is the problem a small cog in the larger wheel of water quality/supply
institutions/management/infrastructure
– ‘Traditional’ practices, participatory methods, technological method??
• If we know the solution, do we know the approach?
• What about solutions and approaches till date?
One of the possible ways: Network approach
• Trans-disciplinary developmental problems requiring multi-pronged strategy
• Many mitigation activities, governmental interventions technologies and projects initiated till date.
• Few inter-sectorial, multi-disciplinary talks or efforts towards action.
• The idea of network is to tap into existing communities of practices, widen scheme of understanding and gaps.
• Assist and accompany communities in a consolidated manner.
What are the networks involved with?
• Creating platforms, giving people avenues to act on these water quality issues and providing them all possible support.– E.g. Jal Choupal, in association with Water Aid as an
informal platform for water related issues- being institutionalised in Bihar through Govt of Bihar
Arsenic Knowledge and Action NetworkThe Assam experience
• A few Insights…
– Conceptualizing the problem within the geography (e.g communication barrier, priority, at risk v/s affected)
– Identifying passionate individuals who can become water quality champions - From 1 village to 30 villages
– Leveraging the potential of alternative and safe source of drinking water through community engagement
– Use of Short films, videos, interactions, discussions, consultations, follow-ups, meetings…….
Guava leaf test, Assam Rain water harvesting structure in school premises
Health camp in Titabar, Assam
Community pond cleaned by the villagers
Tapping the local – newspapers, school gatherings, water quality testing, water infrastructure, awareness through hoardings
Guava leaf test in Bihar
Using ponds for drinking water
Tapping the local for solutions: Participatory Methods for micro
level planning (safe drinking water)Resource Mapping, Institutional
Mapping, Social Capital
Institutional, programmatic and policy interventions
Institutional linkages Programmatic linkages Policy
Identifying institutional gaps in drinking water supply - at state and local level (study for Bihar done)
Linking with Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), MGNREGA (physical infrastructure)
Inter-ministerial group for Arsenic mitigation by Govt of India
Studying food habits in arsenic affected regions
Linking with Drinking Water Mission (Bihar), Water Quality monitoring and Evaluation
National Sub-Mission for Water Quality
Leveraging linkages between water quality, health and education
Inclusion of water quality in National Health Mission
Arsenic Task Force
Opportunities : Lets discuss more…
• Compilation of case studies of organizations (govt/private/NGOs), that addresses the issue of arsenic contamination in water through different approaches- revival of traditional practices, participatory planning and/or technological interventions (desk cum field work).
• Documenting Community level case studies/narratives/voices related to behavioural challenges concerning the issue of safe water in selected districts of Bihar (Khagaria, Paschim Champaran, Buxar) so as to create a repository of local knowledge (field work).
• Contribution to AKVOpedia content pages (desk work) http://akvopedia.org/
• Preparation of a status report on the issue of arsenic contamination in drinking water in Bihar- including collection of news articles, existing research works and compilation of interventions (including govt schemes, programs etc) done in the region for safe water (desk work).