By D. W. G. Kalani Tharanga, JadeTimes News
The Daily Struggle for Water
Fetching drinking water is a grueling routine for millions of women in India, who walk miles daily, carrying heavy plastic or earthen pots on their heads and buckets in their hands, to manage the household water supply. Sunita Bhurbade from Tringalwadi, a tribal village 180km from Mumbai, spends four to five hours every day traveling to and from the nearest reliable water source, a dry lake. The water is dirty, and she has to dig holes on the side to allow the water to filter through naturally. This daily grind leaves her exhausted, often collapsing from fatigue. The physical toll of carrying water leads to chronic back and neck pain, fatigue, and weakness. Moreover, this time consuming task prevents her and other women from pursuing paid employment. “No one will hire me even as a farm laborer because they won’t allow me to show up at work in the afternoon,” she says. This predicament forces women to choose between fetching water and earning a livelihood, resulting in significant economic and personal sacrifices.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF report that 1.8 billion people worldwide collect drinking water from off premises supplies, with women and girls responsible for water collection in 70% of these households. In India, this burden hinders women's ability to engage in paid work, thereby impacting economic growth. Professor Ashwini Deshpande from Delhi's Ashoka University explains that the dual responsibilities of household chores and water collection limit women's opportunities to take up paid employment. This unpaid labor significantly contributes to the economy, with State Bank of India's Ecowrap report estimating its value at around 22.7 billion rupees, or nearly 7.5% of India's GDP. If women could redirect the time spent on water collection to paid activities, it would boost both their financial independence and the economy.
Government Efforts and Persistent Challenges
The Indian government is working to improve water infrastructure, aiming to provide piped water to rural households. By January 2024, nearly 74% of rural households had access to piped water. For those who previously fetched water but now have tap water at home, the change has been transformative. Mangal Khadke, living 30km from Tringalwadi, describes her new access to tap water as a dream come true, having fetched water since she was five years old. However, millions still lack access to tap water, highlighting the ongoing challenges in addressing this critical issue.
In central India's Aaki village, Indrayani Javarkar, the village head, spends most of her day finding and collecting water. During the dry summer months, her primary concern each morning is locating water. Besides securing water for her family, she also organizes water tankers for her village, a task that becomes increasingly difficult. Despite government efforts, the situation remains dire for many women like Sunita Bhurbade, for whom getting tap water remains a distant dream. She recounts how fetching water has been a lifelong obligation, starting from childhood. When asked what she would do with the extra time if she didn't have to fetch water, she expresses a desire to sing, but even her songs are about water, reflecting the central role this task plays in her life.
