Facilitating Water Supply for Poor Facilitating Water Supply for Poor Urban Communities Urban Communities

Ranajit Das Ranajit Das Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK) Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK)

Bangladesh Bangladesh Email: Email: ranajit_das@dskbangladesh.orgranajit_das@dskbangladesh.org

Bangladesh ContextBangladesh Context 150 million people live in Bangladesh with annual 150 million people live in Bangladesh with annual

growth 1.8% growth 1.8% 40% live below poverty level 40% live below poverty level 25% of the total population are extreme poor 25% of the total population are extreme poor 30% of the population live in urban areas ( 50 million) 30% of the population live in urban areas ( 50 million) Urban population rising 6% annually Urban population rising 6% annually Urban population expected to reach 50% by 2025 Urban population expected to reach 50% by 2025 Predicted half of the urban population will live in urban Predicted half of the urban population will live in urban

slums by 2025slums by 2025 Average daily income of the slum dwellers Tk 70- 150 Average daily income of the slum dwellers Tk 70- 150

( USD 1-1.5)( USD 1-1.5)

Poor pay more get lessPoor pay more get less About 7000 slums and low income settlements in Bangladesh but About 7000 slums and low income settlements in Bangladesh but

5000 slums in Dhaka city ( capital city) .5000 slums in Dhaka city ( capital city) . 3.4 million people live in slum in Dhaka 3.4 million people live in slum in Dhaka Population of Dhaka city is 12 million and projected population of Population of Dhaka city is 12 million and projected population of

Dhaka city will be 25 million by 2025 and half of them will be slum Dhaka city will be 25 million by 2025 and half of them will be slum dwellersdwellers

Generally no legal water supply in the slums Generally no legal water supply in the slums People buy water from illegal vendor and pay BDT 150-200/2000Lit ( People buy water from illegal vendor and pay BDT 150-200/2000Lit (

12-15 times higher f the official rate ) but get less water with highly 12-15 times higher f the official rate ) but get less water with highly contaminationcontamination

Cont….Cont…. Over 80% dwellers use unhygienic hanging Over 80% dwellers use unhygienic hanging

toilet toilet House rent BDT 1500-2000/ month for 100-House rent BDT 1500-2000/ month for 100-

120 sq.ft room which same as rich people 120 sq.ft room which same as rich people paypay

Pay for electricity 120-150/month/ per Pay for electricity 120-150/month/ per bulb( illegal connection) which is 10 times bulb( illegal connection) which is 10 times higher than official rate higher than official rate

Two oven Gas supply cost Tk 450 but slum Two oven Gas supply cost Tk 450 but slum dwellers pay Tk 1600 (8 families use two dwellers pay Tk 1600 (8 families use two oven @ Tk 200)oven @ Tk 200)

DSK’s WatSan journeyDSK’s WatSan journey DSK started its Water and sanitation interventions in urban DSK started its Water and sanitation interventions in urban

slum in 1992slum in 1992

Main objectiveMain objective 100% coverage by water , sanitation and hygiene promotion to 100% coverage by water , sanitation and hygiene promotion to

improve health of the poor and extreme poor people improve health of the poor and extreme poor people

DSK’s WatSan is integrated with- DSK’s WatSan is integrated with- Safe legal water supply Safe legal water supply Environmental sanitation Environmental sanitation Hygiene promotion Hygiene promotion Community empowerment Community empowerment Advocacy for pro-poor policy Advocacy for pro-poor policy

Water Supply in urban slumsWater Supply in urban slums

Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) the only water supply agency in Dhaka cityonly water supply agency in Dhaka city

DWASA had written laws that ‘ people must have legal DWASA had written laws that ‘ people must have legal ownership document of the house/ land to get water ownership document of the house/ land to get water connection.connection.

By laws it was denied By laws it was denied water right of the slum dwellerswater right of the slum dwellers as they as they do not have any legal document of the land to have water do not have any legal document of the land to have water connection.connection.

So, slum dwellers were forced to depend on illegal water So, slum dwellers were forced to depend on illegal water supply or have to beg water to other people who have supply supply or have to beg water to other people who have supply

Cont…Cont…In this scenario, DSK has started WatSan interventions for slum In this scenario, DSK has started WatSan interventions for slum

dwellers of Dhaka city in 1992 dwellers of Dhaka city in 1992

After a continuous discussions and negotiation with DWASA for After a continuous discussions and negotiation with DWASA for legal water connection, DSK finally got 2 water connections in legal water connection, DSK finally got 2 water connections in DSK’s name as a “DSK’s name as a “ Pilot Case” Pilot Case” to provide water connection to to provide water connection to the slum dwellers. the slum dwellers.

DSK installed two DSK installed two “Community Based Water Point”“Community Based Water Point” managed by managed by the community in 1992.the community in 1992.

After successful operation of two After successful operation of two “Community Based Water “Community Based Water Point”Point” DWASA extended its support to DSK for more water DWASA extended its support to DSK for more water points for slum dwellers.points for slum dwellers.

DWASA considered 2 majors areas DWASA considered 2 majors areas - Regular 100% water bill payment by slum dwellers Regular 100% water bill payment by slum dwellers - Reduce non revenue water ( reduce illegal connection) Reduce non revenue water ( reduce illegal connection)

DSK Water Point ModelDSK Water Point Model

Over the period the DSK water point facilities become popular to Over the period the DSK water point facilities become popular to the slum dwellers, Govt., NGOs/Donors and now it is called the slum dwellers, Govt., NGOs/Donors and now it is called “ DSK “ DSK Water Point Model”Water Point Model”

The Model is replicating by NGOs, Donors, NU agencies , Govt. for The Model is replicating by NGOs, Donors, NU agencies , Govt. for slum dwellers. slum dwellers.

Cont..Cont..The DSK model Water Point The DSK model Water Point Community based and community Community based and community

managed through a management managed through a management committeecommittee

Easy manageable Easy manageable Use one point by 20-40 families ( based Use one point by 20-40 families ( based

on the capacity)on the capacity) Legal and get adequate water without Legal and get adequate water without

buying timebuying time No queue to collect waterNo queue to collect water Very much women friendlyVery much women friendly Less pay for water ( 10-15% times less) Less pay for water ( 10-15% times less) No tension to dis-connection as it is No tension to dis-connection as it is

legal legal No fix time to water collection No fix time to water collection Community ownership over the Community ownership over the

connection connection

DSKs sanitation facilitiesDSKs sanitation facilities DSK also provides sanitation facilities DSK also provides sanitation facilities

to the slum dwellers along with safe to the slum dwellers along with safe legal water supply legal water supply

Toilets are community based with Toilets are community based with septic tank facilityseptic tank facility

Toilets are women and disable friendly Toilets are women and disable friendly Vacutug ( a mechanized device ) for Vacutug ( a mechanized device ) for

empting septic tank empting septic tank soiled waste managed for slum soiled waste managed for slum

dwellersdwellers

Participatory Hygiene PromotionParticipatory Hygiene Promotion Hygiene promotion is one of the key components of DSK’s Hygiene promotion is one of the key components of DSK’s

WatSan interventions.WatSan interventions.

Courtyard session for Hygiene Group (Adult, child, Courtyard session for Hygiene Group (Adult, child,

Adolescents Adolescents School HP School HP Menstrual Hygiene Menstrual Hygiene Management Management Follow-up at HH level Follow-up at HH level

Participatory monitoring of HPParticipatory monitoring of HP

Disable Friendly WatSan Disable Friendly WatSan TechnologyTechnology

WP ownership by the communityWP ownership by the community In 2007 DWSAS first 4 WPs ownership transferred from DSK to Community In 2007 DWSAS first 4 WPs ownership transferred from DSK to Community

name : 1name : 1stst official ownership of slum dwellers official ownership of slum dwellers

In 2008 DWASA changed its law of water connection - now it says by In 2008 DWASA changed its law of water connection - now it says by forming a CBO slum dwellers can have a water connection directly from forming a CBO slum dwellers can have a water connection directly from DWASA by their own name.DWASA by their own name.

After 16 years of advocacy initiatives by DSK finally slum dwellers get their After 16 years of advocacy initiatives by DSK finally slum dwellers get their water right in Dhaka City. The other city yet to give water connection directly water right in Dhaka City. The other city yet to give water connection directly to the slum dwellers. DSK has been also working other city to establish to the slum dwellers. DSK has been also working other city to establish water right for slum dwellers water right for slum dwellers

Slum dwellers obtained permission of water connection in the name of CBO

Slum dwellers are entitled as DWASA legal customer (DWASA incorporated the issue in the by-laws)

DWASA transferred ownership of water point from DSK to community

MoU between DWASA & NGOs

Dhaka WASA reduced the security money from Tk. 10,000 to Tk. 1000

Initial permission for 2 water points for slum dwellers in the name of DSK

A Successful Advocacy OutcomeA Successful Advocacy Outcome

Experiences and ChallengesExperiences and Challenges ExperiencesExperiences Evidence based advocacy create more influence over Evidence based advocacy create more influence over

policy makerspolicy makers Community participation and their capacity building is Community participation and their capacity building is

importantimportant ChallengesChallenges Stop continuous slum eviction without notice and Stop continuous slum eviction without notice and

alternative arrangement for the slum dwellersalternative arrangement for the slum dwellers Manage slum power structure for slum development Manage slum power structure for slum development Find adequate space for installing WatSan infrastructure Find adequate space for installing WatSan infrastructure

in slums in slums

Work together for their better futureWork together for their better future

ReferenceReference BBS, Govt. of Bangladesh 2007BBS, Govt. of Bangladesh 2007 World Bank 2000World Bank 2000 Slums of Urban Bangladesh Mapping and Census , 2005 ,CUS, MEASURE Slums of Urban Bangladesh Mapping and Census , 2005 ,CUS, MEASURE

NIPRT 2005NIPRT 2005 DSK project informationDSK project information