Even after 72 years of Independence women's have to walk miles togethe...
Scarcity of Clean Drinking Water in India
India, a country that is known for its diverse culture, tradition, and natural resources, is facing a major problem of scarcity of clean drinking water. Despite being an independent nation for over 72 years, a significant portion of the population still struggles to access safe and clean drinking water.
Causes of Scarcity
The primary reason for the scarcity of clean drinking water is the rapidly growing population that has put immense pressure on the existing water resources. Furthermore, the inadequate infrastructure, poor management, and lack of awareness among people regarding water conservation are also contributing to the problem. In addition, climate change and pollution are also affecting the water resources, making it difficult to access clean drinking water.
Consequences of Scarcity
The scarcity of clean drinking water has severe consequences on people's health and well-being. Due to the unavailability of safe water, people are forced to consume contaminated water, leading to water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. Moreover, the scarcity of water has also resulted in conflicts and social unrest in certain parts of the country.
Solutions
The scarcity of clean drinking water can be addressed through various measures such as:
1. Water conservation: Promoting water conservation techniques like rainwater harvesting, water recycling, and efficient irrigation systems can help in conserving water.
2. Infrastructure development: The government should invest in developing the water infrastructure, including the construction of dams, pipelines, and water treatment plants.
3. Awareness campaigns: Conducting awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of water conservation and the harmful effects of consuming contaminated water.
4. Pollution control: Strict measures should be taken to control pollution of water resources.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the scarcity of clean drinking water is a significant problem in India that needs immediate attention. By implementing the above measures, we can ensure that everyone has access to safe and clean drinking water, thus ensuring better health and well-being for all.
Even after 72 years of Independence women's have to walk miles togethe...
Every second woman in rural India walked an average 173 kilometres – the distance between Delhi and Vrindavan – to fetch potable water in 2012, making her trek 25 kilometres longer than what it was in 2008-9 and spending 210 hours in a year for fetching water also meant loss of 27 days' wages for these households. Collectively, these women covered 64,000 times the distance between the earth and the moon.
The NSSO data also shows that 70% of the rural women from states such as Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Odisha and Jharkhand had to travel some distance to draw water. The daily time spent on this exercise was the highest in Jharkhand (40 minutes) followed by Bihar (33 minutes) and Rajasthan (30 minutes). It was the lowest for Assam (10 minutes) in rural areas and Delhi (six minutes) among urban parts of the country.The women had to toil more as the traditional water sources were drying up. The NSSO statistics show that more households were dependent on tube wells or bore wells as principal sources of drinking water in 2012 compared to previous years.
About 80% of the country's drinking water needs are met by groundwater which, apart from rapidly becoming a rare commodity, is often highly contaminated, says international non-profit organisation WaterAid. The NSSO statistics, on the other hand, reveal that less than 10% of rural Indian households have the facility to treat water before consuming it, while the findings say that 90% of the families get safe drinking water. This data, though, was derived on the basis of households' claims and not any scientific study. Also, only 1.7% of rural Uttar Pradesh homes, 2.2% in Bihar and 6.6% in Haryana boil, filter or use chemicals and electrifiers to purify water.
India has, over the years, been shifting goalposts for providing potable water to all. In 1949, an environmental hygiene committee recommended that safe drinking water should be supplied to 90% of the country's population within 40 years. Sixty-five years since the target was set, potable water remains a distant dream in most of rural India.
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