“We should be careful consuming water. We should drink safe water and adopt measures to purify water. Therefore safety should be considered to ensure water is safe and drinkable” says Manorath Bajgain, Senior Lab Technician, ENPHO. His message is crystal clear but according to the department of water supply and sewerage in Nepal, though an estimated 80% people of the total population has access to drinking water; the water might not be safe. In most cases, marginalized population living in rural areas has limited access to the water, let alone safe water. People living in remote areas have to depend on small streams running from the mountain and spend hours to get water. Further, only 27% of the population has access to sanitation. Similarly, more than 44,000 children die every year in Nepal from waterborne disease.

Considering the situation of water and sanitation, the number of different institutions working in the field of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is increasing. However, there is no proper account to ensure accessibility of people on WASH. We should prioritize inclusive WASH. Access to WASH should be for everyone including women, children and differently abled people,” shared Lajana Manandhar, Director, LUMANTI. No institution, not even ours or any country’s government can vouch on that. It is an indication that we still have a long way to go but that does not mean the government and many institutions of Nepal are not working to ensure the accessibility. They are and they will.

On the occasion of Water Action Month, GUTHI in partnership with International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA) organized awareness session at Viswa Niketan Higher Secondary School, Tripureshwor.

Considering students as mediator and means of further information dissemination to their family, neighbors and community, they were oriented regarding importance of water, sanitation and prevalent issues in society. They later were encouraged to share their views regarding water and sanitation right.

Bimala Gurung

Program Associate, GUTHI