In Kantakoli, a remote village in Odisha where the indigenous Juanga community lives, a severe water crisis spurred women to take action and ensure access to clean drinking water and improved livelihoods.
In the heart of Odisha, nestled among the hills and forests of Talachampei gram panchayat in Kendujhar district, lies the small village of Kantakoli. It’s home to around 80 families of the Juanga community that the government has classified as a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG).
This settlement has long been a testament to the resilience of its people. For generations, they have lived in harmony with nature, their livelihoods dependent on rain-fed farming and the bounty of the surrounding forests.
Yet, beneath the surface of their seemingly idyllic existence, a crisis brewed – one that touched the very essence of life itself. Kantakoli faced a severe shortage of drinking water, a problem that had plagued the village for years but had now reached a critical point. Large-scale mining drastically affected the groundwater level, leading to both a depletion of available water and a significant decline in its quality.
The very source of life became scarce, posing a grave threat to the community’s future.
Kantakoli’s sole well, which has been serving as the lifeline for all 80 families, began to run dry during the scorching summer months. As the water level dwindled, so did the hope of the villagers.
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Women, who bore the brunt of this crisis, were forced to trek long distances in search of safe drinking water. They spent hours each day, walking under the unforgiving sun, their bodies aching from the weight of the water-filled pots balanced precariously on their heads.
In desperation, the villagers resorted to digging a chua – a rudimentary pit to collect water filtering through the soil – on the banks of a nearby stream. However, this solution brought its own set of problems. The water from the chua was far from hygienic, full of impurities and potential pathogens.
Soon, cases of waterborne diseases began to rise, especially among children and the elderly. Diarrhoea, typhoid and skin infections became commonplace, further straining the already fragile health infrastructure of the village.
Women began to voice their concerns about how the water crisis affected every aspect of their lives – from cooking and cleaning to maintaining personal hygiene. The long hours spent fetching safe drinking water meant less time for other activities, including caring for their children and engaging in income-generating work.
It was in this atmosphere of growing despair that Saraswati Naik, a panchayat resource person working with the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), decided to take action. Recognising the severity of the situation, Naik saw an opportunity to leverage the power of local governance structures to bring about change.
With her guidance, the issue was first raised in the mahila sabha – the women’s assembly of the village – where they share their experiences and voice their grievances collectively. They discussed how the water crisis was not just a matter of inconvenience, but a serious threat to their health, livelihoods and dignity.
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Empowered by this collective realisation, the mahila Sabha decided to escalate the matter to the gram sabha – the village-level assembly that forms the bedrock of local self-governance in India. The women drafted a formal letter, detailing the water crisis and its impact on the community, and submitted it to the sarpanch, the elected head of the gram panchayat. Upon receiving the letter, the standing committee of the panchayat promptly decided to visit the village to gain a deeper understanding of the problem firsthand.
However, despite the urgency of the situation, two months passed without any concrete action from the panchayat. Undeterred, Saraswati Naik and the women of Kantakoli again approached the Standing Committee members. They jointly decided to take their fight to the next level, as the block administration took no action after the request from the sarpanch.
They attended the district collector’s grievance redressal meeting at the block level, armed with another application highlighting their plight. At the meeting, they presented their case with passion and conviction. The collector, moved by their determination and the gravity of the situation, assured them of action within 15 days.
True to his word, he facilitated a tubewell to be dug in the village, providing a reliable source of clean and safe drinking water. Moreover, under the Basudha scheme, piped water supply was extended to the village, ensuring that every household had access to safe drinking water.
The impact of this development has been profound and far-reaching. With easy access to clean and safe drinking water, the health of the villagers has improved dramatically. Cases of waterborne diseases have plummeted; the overall quality of life in Kantakoli has seen a marked improvement.
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For the women of the village, this change has been nothing short of revolutionary. No longer do they spend hours fetching water. With the time saved, women engage in small-scale enterprises and participate more actively in community affairs.
Kantakoli’s success story is a testament to the power of community mobilisation and effectiveness of local governance structures when utilised properly. The role of FES through Saraswati Naik, was crucial in facilitating this change. Guiding the community, particularly the women, FES helped create a sustainable solution to a long-standing problem.
The situation is quite common across the block, and more than 80 percent of the tube wells are not functional due to the water crisis. The success of their collective action has boosted the confidence of the villagers, especially the women. They take a more active role in other aspects of village governance, ensuring that their voices are heard in decisions affecting their lives.
The story of Kantakoli’s transformation spread to neighbouring villages, inspiring similar initiatives. It became a shining example of how grassroots democracy, when coupled with the support of organisations like FES, can bring about meaningful change in the lives of marginalised communities.
As the sun set over the hills surrounding Kantakoli, the sound of safe drinking water flowing from the newly installed taps was a sweet melody to the villagers’ ears – a symbol of their resilience, their unity and their unwavering spirit in the face of challenges.
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The lead image shows a woman of Kantakoli pumping water from the new tubewell. (Photo courtesy Saraswati Naik)
Biswabijayini Mohanty is a young professional in the development sector. Kartik Chandra Prusty is a team leader at Foundation for Ecological Security in Kendujhar, Odisha.
