Srinagar, Oct 20: Water scarcity is taking a heavy toll on rural women in Kashmir, with 95 percent of the women surveyed reporting both physical and mental exhaustion linked to water-related work, while 83 percent of households faced shortages, a University of Kashmir study has found.
Led by Dr Shazia Malik, senior assistant professor in the University of Kashmir’s Centre for Women Studies and Research (CWSR), the study was conducted under the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)-funded project Nari Shakti and Water Governance.
It covered more than 70 villages in Budgam, Pulwama and Kupwara districts.
Women bear the burden of water collection
Women were responsible for fetching water in 550 of the 600 households surveyed (91.7 percent), compared with 45 households (7.5 percent) where men did the task.
In the remaining five households, the responsibility was shared.
Overall, 497 households had experienced water scarcity.
The survey found that 589 respondents (98.2 percent) considered water infrastructure inadequate.
All 200 respondents surveyed in each of Budgam and Pulwama reported deficiencies.
In Kupwara, 189 of 200 respondents (94.5 percent) said facilities were inadequate, while 11 considered them adequate.
Long Distances, Limited Piped Supply
In 122 households, the nearest water source was more than 500 metres away.
Of the 442 households collecting water outside the home, 89 spent more than 30 minutes on each trip.
Only 100 households received piped water seven days a week.
During the dry season, 415 respondents (69.2 percent) reported using piped water, 232 (38.7 percent) relied on springs or streams and 137 (22.8 percent) used tankers.
Tube wells or hand pumps were reported by 117 respondents (19.5 percent), public taps by 100 (16.7 percent) and community wells by 72 (12 percent). Respondents could report more than one source.
Water Collection Cuts Into Working Hours
As many as 568 respondents (94.7 percent) said water-related responsibilities reduced their working hours. About 87 percent believed water scarcity affected girls’ education.
The strain extended beyond water collection, with about 91 percent of respondents saying scarcity affected their menstrual hygiene.
Limited Awareness of Govt Schemes
A total of 466 respondents (77.7 percent) were unaware of government water schemes, including the Jal Jeevan Mission, while 134 (22.3 percent) knew about them. Among graduates, 24 of 57 (42.1 percent) were aware of the schemes, compared with 54 of 295 illiterate respondents (18.3 percent).
Seasonal variations in water supply were reported by 99 percent of respondents, while 98 percent linked them to climate change.
Respondent Profile
Of the 600 women surveyed, 295 (49.2 percent) were illiterate and 57 (9.5 percent) were graduates.
Homemakers accounted for 510 respondents (85 percent), while 12 (2 percent) were salaried employees and 10 (1.7 percent) ran businesses.
By economic category, 333 respondents (55.5 percent) belonged to below-poverty-line households, 144 (24 percent) to Antyodaya Anna Yojana households, 116 (19.3 percent) to above-poverty-line households and seven (1.2 percent) to priority households.
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