Access to Safe Water in Ganeshpur, India
Heidelberg, 16.12.2010 – Access to safe water has been granted to residents of Ganeshpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, when the State Water Department on October 4, 2010, implemented a decision taken earlier that year and appointed two staffs to operate a new installed water pump, thus providing the community with clean and drinkable water.
The 300 inhabitants of Ganeshpur, most of them Dalit and agricultural wage labourers, have not had access to clean water in the village for several years. The water from the hand pump in the village only gave yellowish and salty water, which was neither drinkable for humans or animals, nor suitable for cooking or bathing. Consumption resulted in skin diseases, diarrhea, tape worms etc. Due to this situation, women and children had to walk to the nearby village to fetch clean water, a time consuming process, affecting severely both their working hours and food intake.
Since 2008, FIAN has demanded the government to fulfil its obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. An international fact finding mission team, comprised of members of FIAN units in Norway, Nepal, Uttar Pradesh and the International Secretariat, met Mr. A. K. Srivastava, Managing Director of the Water Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, on 25th of November, 2009, to address the issue. Mr. Srivastava showed great concern for the case and promised to take action to ensure clean drinking water for the village. When the FIAN members brought him a sample of the water of the hand pump of the village, Mr Srivastava immediately ordered a test of the sample to be conducted. Also, the FIAN team members handed over solidarity postcards signed by concerned Norwegian citizens.
The village no longer depends on water from the hand pumps as new tube well supplies water from 900 feet deep, providing water good in taste and quality. The water department has appointed two staff persons to switch on and off the electric motor of the tube well to ensure water supply to the village. In U.P. power supply is not regular so whenever power supply comes staff has to start the motor. A new pipeline further distributes the water to collective taps in the community.
Mr. Hemraj, a 70 years old agricultural labourer and leader of the community, is happy about the changed situation: “At last we got safe drinking water and my grand children will not suffer. Thanks to FIAN and all who accompanied us in our long struggle.”
FIAN UP will continue being observant and monitor the case to see that the water continues to be supplied on a regular basis by the Uttar Pradesh Water Department.