Initiation of Women on Implementing Water Safety Plan

With the support from USAID and EAWAG, ENPHO implemented a project named “School-Led Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Improvements in Mid-Western Areas of Nepal”, also termed as Su-Swastha, from Jan 2011 to March 2014. One of the objectives of the project was to assist local communities in preparing and implementing water safety plan (WSP) for their water supply schemes.

The success story shared here is the implementation of WSP at two water supply schemes of Ramghat-7, namely, Bhandari Naulo Pani Kuwa and Gyiene Khola by the team of women involved in SWASHTA community promotion committee and Water User Committee. The voted committee selected by the community contained 13 members, and among them 11 were female.

In order to consume safe water, the committee proposed two water sources for Water Safety Plan (WSP). Ms. Durga Sharma, Chairperson of the committee, said, “ENPHO provided us with 2 days’ training on WSP and its implementation. Apart from the committee members, technically sound masons and water uses’ received the training. The training encouraged us to maintain our sources.” Altogether there were 30 participants, and among them 22 were female.

They appreciated the trainers, Ms. Purnima Shakya and Mr. Ram Bilas Pant, for facilitating on the preparation of WSP, its preliminary design and tentative estimate. Ms. Tika Dangi, Secretary of the committee, proudly said, “It was mandatory to form Water Users’ Committee on implementing WSP, as facilitated by the trainers, and our committee was chosen by other trainees rather than forming a new committee.” At the end of the training, the committee members committed on implementing WSP, collecting community contribution and monitoring the process.

Committee members, Ms. Bal Kumari Bhandari and Ms. Devisara G.C., said that the training provided by ENPHO has empowered the committee members on action oriented works. Though the members were illiterate and partially literate, they were eager to learn for consuming safe water from the source. 

The chair person agrees, “We were dominated before, but now we have the power to make decisions for ourselves and for the community development. We used to be scared to face and fight for our rights. After involving in the committee, we are confident enough to raise questions for justice. We are able to involve community on developmental works.”

She further added, “The things we never dreamt are coming into reality. It was beyond our dream to implement WSP. But today we are proud group of women to achieve on completing WSP. Only few months before, we used to drink contaminated water and today we have safely covered sources that help protect water from contamination.” Ms. Vishnu Khadka, Treasurer of the committee said, “Even after the completion, we are ready to take responsibility on operation and maintenance of both the schemes.”