Local solutions by slum communities to deal with summer water scarcity: Learning from Indore, India

Abstract

Abstract Issue Government of India's, NITI Aayog reports that 600 million people in India face extreme water stress. Slums and similarly vulnerable urban populations face huge challenges in accessing water for basic needs, increasing in summers. Indore is an extreme water stressed city in India. Methods During Urban Health Resource Centre's (UHRC) program work in slums, including women's groups UHRC forms and trains in 2018 we learnt of acute water scarcity in summers. Women in 16 slums were motivated to evolve and implement possible solutions. Most slum dwellers provide services on low wages to the city. With public bore-wells drying-up, in Feb.- May 2019 UHRC helped women's groups' submit community requests, reminders to elected ward representatives and Municipal offices for free water tankers. UHRC motivated slum families to collectively negotiate with private providers to reduce cost, systematise water supply for more families. In 4 peri-urban slums we strengthened water access relationship between farmers and slum dwellers. Results During Feb.-May 2019 10 of the 16 slums received free water tankers from Municipal Corporation. More population of 4 peri-urban slums accessed water from farmer's tube-well. Slum families evolved coping mechanisms of storing more general use water in underground tanks or many cans. Families with larger storage shared water with needy families demonstrating social cooperation. Lessons Trained and mentored slum women's groups gently negotiating with elected ward-level politicians and municipal officials helps in provision of free water tankers in summers. This strategy to get govt. water supply in slums is adaptable in fast growing Indian cities. Owing to geographical proximity, rural-urban cooperation can help slums in city's fringes obtain water from farmer tube-wells used for irrigation. Fostering community cooperation helps more needy families get water. Key messages Slum communities develop local mechanisms to access and store water which need to be understood by civil society organisations and Government to improve solutions for water supply in summer months. Slum women emerge as dynamic actors to improve the lives of both women and men (Sen, 2000). In this case women help negotiate for and foster community cooperation for water, store more water.