Finding villagers’ long-lost happiness

Nepal has been progressive with formulating policies; however, implementation has been a huge challenge. A huge gap can be felt in between urban and rural areas. Even in the 21st century, caste discrimination still exists. The problem of waiting hours to fetch water in the public tap and taking the turn at the end for being a Dalit has come to an end now at Rum village, located in ward no 2 of Malika Rural Municipality, Myagdi.

The residents of Rum village have been suffering from dire scarcity of water and somehow managing water from the public tap and a spring. Though 14 years ago, a water system was constructed, they did not get access to it. Now with the WASH project, the villagers feel they have found their long-lost happiness as they can access to safe and reliable water within their house premises.

 

Ran Bahadur Gharti, caretaker of Thulo Rum Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Project, says that about 30 taps serving around 300 households have been constructed and he never thought his such expectation would ever come true.

After the project was approved in the fiscal year 2080/81 in the partnership of Water for Nepal Health (NEWAH) and Malika RM, the villagers were elated. The women were more in misery as they have to manage water every morning and evening while managing other household chores in the afternoon.  Gita Harmel, the resident of Thulo Rum said that the regular sanitation and hygiene activities were very less due to scarcity of water. She has a family of 6 and she used to struggle a lot to manage water for her family. As caste discrimination is still prevalent in her village, it added further plight in their lives. She also felt immense happiness with yard connection as it has made her life much more convenient.

Utilization of waste water

Bhumilal Kami, Secretary of Thuo Rum Water and Sanitation Users Committee (WSUC), says that since the water source is about 10 kilometers away, people looks ways for optimum utilization of waste water and we can see people utilizing waste water in kitchen gardening. Bhumilal is a hard-working person. He is not just a member of WSUC, but also a caretaker of the Thulo Rum WASH Project. Currently, he is also producing various vegetables in his kitchen garden by utilizing waste water.

 

Case study presented by Hem Raj Mahara
Hygiene and Sanitation Facilitator
Province Office- Baglung