Lipika Mandal, aged 27, resides in Dayarghat village of Sadar Union, Assasuni Upazila. This village is situated near the Kholpetua River, where storm floods have become a daily challenge for the residents. The haunting memories of Cyclone Aila in 2009 and the resulting trauma still linger among the villagers. When cyclones such as Amphan, Foni, and Nargis make landfall on the coastal area, their forceful gusts sweep over the residents of Dayarghat. Each blow sets the community back before they can recover from the previous one. Lipika arrived in this village Nine years ago after her marriage. Her husband’s house, constructed with mud walls and a thatched roof, presents constant challenges during adverse weather conditions. The dilapidated state of the dwelling forces them to endure endless hardships, even during the slightest rain.

The family consists of three members: Lipika, her husband Anup, who works as a day laborer with seasonal migration, and their only daughter. The village of Dayarghat faces a severe shortage of safe water, forcing Lipika to embark on a daily 2 to 3-kilometer journey to collect drinking water, consuming about three hours each day. They lack a reliable source of safe water, impacting not only their drinking water supply but also their ability to maintain daily hygiene. This scarcity poses a health risk to all women in the village, including Lipika Mandal.

Eight years ago, when Lipika was pregnant, her life took a miserable turn due to a severe water shortage. While Lipika’s husband sought a livelihood by working in the kiln, he left his pregnant wife at home without assistance. In the absence of anyone to help her, Lipika had to manage all her household chores and travel 2-3 (perhaps 5) kilometers for safe water. On certain days when her health was particularly compromised, Lipika struggled to fetch water. This posed a significant challenge, especially considering the local clinic doctor’s advice for pregnant women to consume 5-6 liters of water daily. Despite the doctor’s recommendations, Lipika found herself unable to follow this guidance consistently, sometimes having to rely on the kindness of neighbors. This situation subjected her to continuous hardships and self-neglect. The scarcity of water became a constant source of concern for Lipika, particularly regarding the health of her baby in the womb. During the 6-7th month of her pregnancy, Lipika, with her weakened body, had to carry water. The weight of the water pitcher often proved too much for her, leading her to seek assistance from others. Unfortunately, not everyone was willing to lend a helping hand, adding to Lipika’s struggles during this challenging time.

A few days before the child was born, Lipika’s husband returned home from work at a kiln. On the day Lipika’s liver pain began, her condition worsened around 10 pm, necessitating a trip to the hospital. The unpaved road from Lipika’s house to the main road had no vehicular traffic. Consequently, Lipika endured the pain, walking 2 kilometers step by step, and reached the main road by midnight. Finally, around 5 am, she gave birth to a baby girl.

With her infant daughter, she had to embark on a new struggle to collect safe water. It was very difficult for Lipika to leave the baby alone at home while going to fetch water. Waiting in a long line for water posed a significant challenge. Lipika would stand in line, constantly thinking about her child left alone at home. Initially, people would allow her to take water without waiting in line for a few days, understanding her situation. However, later on, they stopped giving her that privilege, stating that everyone faces challenges at home. Lipika describes one of days memory, “When I remember that day, I am shocked. It was a rainy day. I left my baby girl sleeping in bed and went to fetch water. When I came home, I saw that the bed was wet, and my baby girl was lying down on the wet bed, with rain falling in her eyes. She was drinking that water. As a mother, it was very painful for me to see this scene.” That day, Lipika vowed that she would not have her second child until she had access to safe water for her family.

Shapla Mohila o shishu Kollan Songstha (Shapla Women and Child Welfare Organization) is a local institution working diligently, duly registered with the Department of Women Affairs. Transition 2023 initiated the Wiccan project in collaboration with Simavi, with the goal of partnering with local women-led organizations. According to the transition rules, this institution was selected. The Community-Based Organization (CBO) formed a group consisting of 30 members in Dayarghat village, naming it ‘Bonful Women’s Development Organization’. With unanimous consent, Lipika was elected as the president of the group.

The group conducts weekly meetings covering topics such as safe drinking water, hygiene-friendly latrines, women’s leadership development, skill development training, advocacy strategies, stakeholder identification, application form preparation, submission processes, social mapping, monthly health management for women and girls, and seasonal calendars. They identify area problems and discuss solutions through collaborative efforts. Water, Sanitary Latrine and road problems are highlighted as issues on maps and calendars, with the main water problem stemming from non-functional tube wells in the village. Retaining rainwater becomes a crucial solution.

Lipika, in consultation with other group members, applied to the union parishad, upazila parishad to secure a 3000-liter water tank. Additionally, Lipika Mandal, CBO staff, and five other group members met with Ruhul Haque, a former Health Minister and current Member of Parliament. They applied and a mass petition seeking support for rainwater harvesting tanks and sanitary latrines.Simultaneously, they applied to the Union Parishad to repair the road with brick soling, and within a few days, the chairman laid the bricks and constructed a new road. For a 3000-liter water tank, the government fee is Taka 1500/-. Uttaran supported them by providing the amount per person for the government fee deposit for the tank, in collaboration with the WECAN project. Lipika is content now, and everyone in her group shares in the happiness. She expresses, “I wish for a son; I want to have another child.”