Water Scheme Eases Burden for Nepali Women

Chandra Kala Thapa's life in LamiDanda, was defined by the daily struggle for water. For three hours each day, this mother of five would trek down a steep hill to collect just enough water for her family of seven. The journey was treacherous, especially during the rainy season when the path became slippery and dangerous. "It was very difficult to collect water going down the steep hill. It was the most difficult during the rainy season," Chandra Kala recalled. She had been injured several times while making the perilous journey, and sometimes had to rely on her daughter to help fetch water from the river. During floods, the family would be cut off from access to clean water for days, and even the water they managed to collect was often contaminated.

But now, thanks to a new water scheme built by Bagmati Welfare Society Nepal (BWSN) and Oxfam, Chandra Kala's life has been transformed. She now spends few minutes a day collecting clean water from a tap near her home. This newfound time has allowed her to focus on other important tasks, such as tending her kitchen garden and caring for her goats, which has helped to improve her family's livelihood. WASH Innovation project has brought clean and reliable water to over 700 households in the area. The project involved constructing a resilient water supply system, including infiltration galleries and sand dams, which are designed to withstand even the most severe floods. The project also revived three old water tanks that had been unused for years, demonstrating its value and impact on the community. Chandra Kala says, "The water I collect is from a tap and is clean, unlike the river water I used to fetch before."

The project has not only eased the burden on women like Chandra Kala, but it has also improved the health and well-being of the entire community. Access to clean water has reduced the incidence of waterborne diseases and has freed up time for people to focus on other productive activities.