WORLD WATER DAY- MARCH 22- SOME RECOLLECTIONS K,G MATHAI KUTTY

 

WORLD WATER DAY- MARCH 22- SOME  RECOLLECTIONS

K,G MATHAI KUTTY

Social Scientist &; Community Development Worker,Executive Secretary and Liaison Officer, United Religions Initiative,General Secretary, Cosmic Community Centre

World Water Day – 22 nd March 2026 [In this 33rd year since the United Nations declared ‘22 nd March’ as World Water Day in 1993, happy to note that Kerala Palliative Care Initiative, Kottarakara is observing the World Water Day and publishing a book under the Tittle “KUDIVELLAM JEEVAJALAM” (Drinking Water – Water for Life)] Some Recollections from my personal and Professional experience:

Having realized that Water is Life, we had been living, playing/sporting in different water bodies as ponds, streams, etc., in our childhood till around 1970. In our localities and throughout Kerala, there were lots of wetlands, paddy fields, etc., that maintained ground and surface water levels. Since then in the name of development and human greed to enhance wealth and pleasure, the exploitation of the land and water bodies continued to destroy the natural environments, depleting surface and ground water levels and natural habitation in our mother earth. Much before the declaration of United Nations – “World Water Day” focusing on different interconnected themes, we all have been living with water. Water is Life in normal situation; but the water can be the life destroyer at times. I remember one incident. In the year 1972 or so I have seen for the first time in my life a cloud burst resulting a flash floods devastating the sides and passages of Pulamon stream Kottarakara. It resulted the Culverts, buildings including that of Dr. George memorial hospital, etc. were eroded in strong currents of the flash floods and the landslides debris it carried.

In the next year I had migrated to Calcutta i.e. in June 1973 to continue my studies after matriculation, to do jobs for earning and to meet the education expenses. Every year I used to visit native home in Kottarakara, when I used to witness the rapid conversion of paddy fields into shopping centers on either sides of Main Central (M.C) Road, filling with earth from the high lands. This has resulted disappearances of perennial source of water drains, wetlands/paddy fields and the water levels going down and down also contamination of aquifers. In the year 1987 acute droughts situation in Kerala and house hold open dug wells getting dried resulting drinking water shortage in many places in Kerala.

My professional experience related to water Since early 1976, while continue my academic education, I joined a Social Development International Voluntary Organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, namely The Lutheran World Federation/Department for World Service (LWF/WS) in its India headquarters at Calcutta. As part of my job responsibilities, I was engaged in Rapid Response activities after major disasters like Floods, Droughts, Cyclones, Earth Quakes, Landslides, etc., occurred in different states of India, which included West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, etc. in all these response activities, provision of water has been one of the components. In flood situation ‘water water everywhere; but not a drop to drink’ in such situation water becomes destroyer than life giver. Water born and water related diseases are very common after all disasters, especially floods, cyclones, earthquakes, etc. So during and after the occurrences of disaster, water sources get contaminated and become unfit for human consumption. Exclusive Water Development Projects:

It was in 1980, when Orissa experienced severe drought situation. Being part of its disaster response activities, we have initiated ‘Food-for-Work’ project with expected

outcome –

i) Food grains made available to the affected people, while scarcity in supply, ii) Provided employment opportunity to stop internal migration from rural tourban,iii) Construction of water reservoir, rain water harvesting embankments to recharging groundwater level addressing future occurrence of drought situations,iv) Reduce or mitigate the occurrences of water born and water related deceases.Groundwater exploration through drilling bore wells and installation of annual waterlifting device.In order to address the consistent drought spells leading to non availability of drinking water, we procured water drilling rigs and organized operating crews to Drill bore wells and Install community hand pumps providing potable water for household use within their habitation. This has helped making creative use of time especially that of the women and girl children, who are to walk long distance for fetching water in pots for domestic purposes. The responsibility of collecting water for meeting domestic needs is vested on women and girl children in those areas.We Influenced the Government Plans and Policies:After recognizing the outcome impact of the LWF/DWS projects, the State and Central governments have drawn ideas from the above mentioned Food/Cash-for- Work projects got introduced and replicated in the Government plans, which was an indirect outcome impact.

In the later years, the Government and UN agencies have come forward for financial collaboration with the LWF/WS water development projects in India signing by-lateral agreement for us to implement in the states of Orissa and West Bengal. I was responsible on behalf of the LWF/WS to sign the financial collaboration agreement with the concerned departmental heads, to plan, implement, jointly monitor and conduct social audit the project outcome. Projects for example implemented bylaw/DWS were (i) the ‘Million Wells Project and (ii) the 10 th Finance Commission Award project for Coastal Orissa as part of Community Based Disaster preparedness for Risk Reduction – Deep Tube-wells with raised platform handpumps above the highest flood levels for uninterrupted supply of drinking wateralways including during floods and cyclones. Sustainability of these projects was ensured to providing skill training and needed tools to selected members of the communities. In all the implementation phases of the above projects active participation and gender balance were ensured. Special care and attention were give to respect women’s opinion in the handling of water lifting devices and drainage system of the raised platforms ensuring their safety and culture. The ground waters are of different water qualities/ contents. While in some location mineral rich water insome locations the water can be with iron and other chemicals. So it is important to undertake water quality tests before collecting the water for human consumption to ensure safety of water.

We were able to practice and depict effective collaboration without any complaints of malpractices whatsoever. The projects were implemented with maintaining transparency, honesty, vertical and horizontal accountabilities have earned highest credibility for the INGO among the Government and the communities. United Nations Recognition of the LWF/DWS: The LWF/DWS being the UN recognized INGO, that is having projects in over forty countries, the United Nations, they have to some extend share in the declaration of World Water Day.

So on this World Water Day, let us protect the mother earth and preserve the water source to enjoy the gift of nature by raising awareness and voice against unmindful exploitation of Mother Earth and its natural resources and environment created by Almighty God. May Peace, Justice and Healing of earth prevail in this world for the heavenly existence of the Crown of God’s creation. With all best wishes to the Kerala Palliative Care Initiatives.

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