WASH4UrbanPoor Project

Background of the Project

Bangladesh faces a number of barriers to universal WASH coverage, including reaching hard to reach areas such as excluded or marginalized groups like urban slums and pavement dwellers. The impact of climate change and natural disasters of increased magnitude and frequency continue to challenge existing WASH technology. Hygiene practice is worryingly low across a number of indicators. Legally, slum dwellers do not have land tenure rights which makes them vulnerable to frequent forced evictions and the destruction of any existing infrastructure which the community has invested in. Environmental health conditions are poor, and almost half of all slum households dispose of garbage in open space, compared with a quarter in non-slum areas. Slums are generally located in low-lying areas that are unsuitable for housing and are flooded each year during the rainy season. There is usually no network for the disposal, collection and treatment of human sludge from city authorities, and disposal of human excreta in open spaces such as vacant land, road sides, water bodies and drains are common. Hanging latrines, installed by the banks of ponds, canals and in low-lying areas, are also a typical sight, and similar to open defecation in the immediate contamination of the environment by human excreta. Unpredictable and extreme changes in the weather add to their vulnerability. Khulna city in southwest Bangladesh, has been ranked one of the 15 most vulnerable cities to climate change. In relation to this, WASH4UrbanPoor Project is implemented in Khulna City Corporation (KCC) by Nabolok during the time period of April 2018 to December 2022. This project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and supported by WaterAid. This project is relevant to address the challenges and requirements for the poorer segment of the population in Khulna City Corporation (KCC).

Goal of this project

Improved environmental health and resilience of WASH for deprived urban poor living in slums and low-income settlements.

WASH4UrbanPoor Project

Outcomes

1. WASH deprivation reduced among target communities through increased WASH awareness and access to climate resilient WASH services

2. Local governance in pro-poor WASH service delivery and coordination with other services in target cities and towns improved.

3. WASH policies and strategies improved in favor of urban poor through evidence and advocacy

Beneficiary Coverage

Water: 20,000, Sanitation: 20,000, Hygiene: 38,000

Major Interventions

Glimpse of Interventions

The health restored when sanitary latrine has been restored

A Slum called Greenland grown up in Khulna railway station’s land. The family of Mosharraf Khan (50 years) and Manoara Begum (35 years) is one of the Greenland slum dwellers.

Mosharraf Hossain is the son of Late Mozahar Ali Hawlader and Late Achiya Begum. Monowara Begum is the daughter of Late Late Joinal Kha and Late Barujan Bibi. Both of them was the resident of Kharai Khali village of Morolganj, Bagerhat District.

Monowara Begum and Musharraf Khan have lived in the Greenland slum for 19 years. They also have three sons and three daughters. Two of them have got married. They live in the Greenland slum area with their six children among them three boys and a daughter. They are struggling to fight with poverty. At the same time, fighting with the use of the bathroom for emergency needs.

14 families, including family of Mosharraf Khan, used to use an old wicker closet. While using this closet, the tanks burst and the stool and dirty water begin to overflow. Unfortunately the closet was used by Md. Musharraf Khan. As soon as Musharraf came out of the closet, another families who also used the closet came out and blamed Mosharraf for the accident and quarrel begins. At a stage of quarrel fight began among them. At one stage of the fight a bone of Musharraf’s chest and a bone of Monoara Begum’s right thigh has been broken. They were admitted to the hospital to recover. After several days of being in the hospital, they returned after recovery. They got financially and physically feeble. After returning, the other families do not allow them to go to the toilet. Monwara Begum and Md. Musharraf Khan, made a toilet by placing a cloth with their living room and connected with the pond. As a result the environment of the area is contaminated and became dirty. For the past year, they have been using this closet.

By the financial assistance of donor organization WATER AID and technical support of NGO Nabolok, environment and health friendly Sanitary latrine has been developing at Greenland slum area of ​ ward no 21 of Khulna district. Which improves the environment, health and reduces the sufferings of the people of the area. Such a Sanitary latrine which was given to Mosharrf and Monoara which return the happiness and healthy life to them.

Nabolok made a two chambered sanitary latrine with the facility of bathing in the D-block of Greenland slum. Which is being used by 16 families of the slam. Among these 16 families the family of Mosharraf Kha is one of them. These 16 families formed the WASH fund to clean and repair the sanitary latrine. Md Mosharraf and Manuara Begum’s family took part in the formation of the WASH fund. So, Mosharraf and Monowara is the equal partner of the sanitary latrine.  The new sanitary latrine will not be broken anymore so Mosharraf Kha and Manowara Begum’s never broke their bones again. More than 15 families like Mozaherf Kha and Monwara Begum will use this toilet. Md Mosharraf Kha and Monowara Begum will not have to fight for the use of the toilet. It has been known from many days that, the disinfectant is spreading the disease and bad smell but in the Greenland, people have to sacrifice their bones of the body to go to the toilet.

The sanitation system in the Greenland slum area is not only limited to human rights but also becomes the fundamental right slum dwellers. Here, a sanitary latrine brings the comfort and relief in the slum life and change their life and health positively.

Wedding ceremony of Rajan Das has been fixed on February 10, 2019

Rajan Das, son of late Satya Das and late Laksmi Das, a resident of Greenland slum Housing, Block D, Ward No. 21, Mobile No. 01736620534. A salesman of a readymade garments store at the railway market. About seven months ago his Guardian analyzing a proposal for his weeding with Dipika Das daughter of Badal Das and Dipali Das resident of Mather Para, Ishwardi. According to the rules both of them visited the resident of each other to observe the economic and socio economic condition. The proposal was rejected by Bride’s side because of raw toilet, unhealthy environment and unsafe water as a result the marriage program postponed in a word.

At the age of four Rajon lost his Dad and at six he lost his mom.  Since then his sister in law Dipali Das performed his duties as his parents. She manages Rajan as his own son. Even they are from Scavenger community, she took away Rajan and brought him away from their traditional profession of employment. She opened a new era in front of Rajon by literate him and familiar him to gentle life. But because of the poor environment he could never invite a friend to his house. The guardian of bride postponed the marriage because of the same reason. Then all the families living in Nasima lane of Block D, has contact with local councilors for pure water and sanitation facilities. But due to the lack of budget of City Corporation in sanitation, Councilor contacted with Nabolok for the facilities.

Then the technical team of Nabolok and Project manager visited the area and decided to make a CRCT-2 after inspection under WASH four Urban Poor project with the technical assistance of Nabolok and financial assistance Water aid. After completing all the activities, today Nasim’s lane is an ideal lane in Greenland. After ensuring the healthier closet, healthy environment and safe water system the guardian from bride side came back and make sure the marriage ceremony.

However, on February 10, 2019 in the dusk, wedding ceremony of Rajan Das and Deepika Das has been fixed. All the member of Water Aid and Nabalok are invited in the wedding ceremony.