Kakoli Mondal: A Tale of Transformation

Kakoli Mondal's journey is a testament to resilience and transformation in the face of adversity. Living in the coastal areas of southwestern Bangladesh, where access to clean and safe drinking water is a daily struggle, Kakoli, a 32-year-old mother, has navigated the challenges of ensuring her family's well-being. 

Married at a young age and now the mother of two daughters, Kakoli found herself in a situation where she, along with the other female members of her family, had to work tirelessly to fetch water from various sources. 

The absence of safe water options within a reasonable distance meant that they had to contend with water contaminated with arsenic and salinity, especially during the challenging wet seasons when roads became impassable.

Despite their economic limitations, Kakoli and her family managed to install a shallow tube-well. However, it, too, fell victim to contamination. The cost of purchasing water from private entrepreneurs with reverse osmosis plants proved prohibitive for Kakoli, pushing her to find innovative solutions.

In a stroke of creativity, Kakoli started collecting rainwater in large plastic packets, sealing them carefully, and hanging them from bamboo structures in the shade. This method allowed her to preserve water for more than half the year, ensuring a consistent supply for her family. While proud of her resourcefulness, Kakoli remained concerned about the water's quality using this unprotected preservation technique.  

Kakoli's life took a positive turn when the "Arsenic Safe Union" initiative, a collaborative effort between the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and UNICEF, was executed from 2017 in the coastal Assasuni Upazila. Funded by the Embassy of Sweden and implemented by DPHE-UNICEF, with support from the EPRC, the project aimed to provide safe water to all, primarily focusing on impoverished and vulnerable communities. At the project's onset, community clusters were established through the formation of community-based organizations (CBOs) in each village, fostering a platform for voicing concerns and promoting demand creation.

A comprehensive community situation analysis, utilizing social and resource mapping, was conducted to assess the socio-economic conditions and the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) situation. Emphasis was placed on community participation, incorporating their knowledge and experiences in the analysis. The survey produced community-level social maps, identifying households lacking safe water access. This information optimized the site selection process, creating a list of beneficiaries. 

In addition to hardware allocation, a detailed awareness program was implemented at the community level. This included orientation on WASH, arsenic awareness programs, water safety planning, and motivation to improve sanitation and hygiene through the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach. The Bangladeshi NGO, Environment and Population Research Centre (EPRC), conducted workshops and courtyard sessions to educate communities about the importance of sanitation and the risks associated with drinking contaminated water.  

Empowered by this awareness, Kakoli Mondal applied for safe water options through Local Government Institutions (LGIs).  

The selection authority reviewed baseline and community situation analysis (CSA) results, selecting Kakoli’s community for intervention. A technical review committee assessed feasibility assessment results, determining safe water options, specifically a Deep TubeWell (DTW), based on a scientific approach targeting arsenic and salinity considerations. After installation, water quality was rigorously tested in the DPHE lab and validated during third-party monitoring at the ICDDR'B lab. The safe water options were handed over to the community, accompanied by caretaker training and the provision of necessary maintenance tools. Users, especially those involved in water transportation, underwent training on water safety planning.

Now, Kakoli Mondal, equipped with knowledge on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WSAH) issues, enjoys access to safe water from the Deep Tube-Well, contributing to her community's improved health and well-being.

Kakoli's story is one of empowerment, resourcefulness, and positive change. Through her determination and the support of initiatives like the "Arsenic Safe Union," she has not only secured safe water for her family but has become a beacon of hope and knowledge for her community, demonstrating that transformative change is possible, even in the most challenging circumstances.