Gendering Water

 Disrupting water source due to earthquake has made the situation even worse for women because fetching water has predominantly been the women's business in rural Nepal.

Among other household chores, bringing water is what women are responsible for in most households throughout the country. It is one of the daily task that is not considered economically important. The role of women is assigned to execute most of the in-house works has been exclusively given to women through ages. 

After the devastating earthquake of 25th April 2015, the affected district Sindhupalchok, among others, is facing severe shortage of water. In fact, most of the water source have dried, some of them are relocated, but only few number of new ones have emerged. According to local people, the first quake of 25th disrupted water source; the second gave birth to several new sources; however, the third stronger aftershock dried most of them. 

Due to the repeated aftershocks the risk of drying water source is larking. 

Safeguarding water sources is key concern of the government and the civil societies. In addition, several international organizations are also working in WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene) in Sindhupalchowk. Currently, most notably, 26 INGOs are working in water supply rehabilitation. Among them Red Cross is trucking water; UNICEF, World Vision, Oxfam, Malteser International, Lutheran World Federation, CESI, HELVETAS, Mercy Corps, 

Care Nepal are working to repairing water tanks, installing water pipes, rehabilitating water sources as well as distributing container pots. Most of them have either formulated new water users' committee or revived the old one. However, presence of women is not so much. 

Due to the incessant efforts of the donors and the government body water availability is gradually improving. According to the update of WASH Cluster--the group of donors working in sanitation and hygiene in the district--several water supply schemes are being built, water sources are being revived, and access of water is being improved. 

If the nature favors with less or no aftershocks the endeavor of all these organization is reaping its harvest. As a result, water supply schemes will be revived soon, and most of the households will be able to drink clean, safe and pure water. 

However, the access of water to every households is not going to lessen the burden for women. Many water sources, if they got revived, are still far away from their homes. Next, many houses lack male members of the family. They are either in the other country, working as labor or migrated to the nearby town for employment and study. As a result, water fetching is being more skewed to women; and they're seemingly becoming responsible for it. 

Earthquake in Sindhupalchok has suffered people much; however, women are more suffering due to lack of sufficient water. The effort of all the donors and government have improved the access of water, yet, women are the ones who carry water from the nearest accessible point to their homes.