As I approached Diyabari Balur Math slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh, I saw a huge number of women and children with water pots standing in a long line. I was surprised because I had never seen such a long line before. Four thousand slum dwellers have been living in Diyabari Balur Math without any safe water points or hygienic latrines for their use.
I met Bulbuli Bagum, a 30-year-old housewife, who was carrying a big jar of water. Bulbuli lives in the Diyabari Balur Math slum with her husband, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law , and another family of 14 members. Although she is from another village, she came to Dhaka for a job ten years ago. At first she lived in the Battala slum, but it was demolished. So, she moved to Balur Math with her family. Her husband works as a fisherman and seasonal fruit seller. He earns about 3,500 taka (USD $50) per month. Her family pays 1,200 taka (USD $16) per month for rent, not including water, sanitation, electricity, and other facilities.
Bulbuli said, “There is a no water point at all in the slum. We have to collect water from a long distance away. I need 6 to 8 jars of water every day for drinking and cooking. My daughter and I collect this water every day. We have to arrive early, otherwise we will not get enough water because there is huge rush. Sometimes we must go back home without enough water. We face so many difficulties and pains collecting water; we need a water point in our slum as soon as possible*.”
*Projects in this slum have been completed and now Bulbuli and her family have close access to a safe drinking water point and hygienic community latrine.
Story reported by Gouri Halder, Community Health Worker with Water.org’s local partner, DSK
