Who: Shanaz
What: Tube Well Caretaker and Community Volunteer
Location: Betaga Union, Fakirhat Upazila, Khulna District
Occupation: Farm labourer
Age: 38
I have lived here since birth; my mother purchased this land where my house is built 40 years ago. I lost my father in the liberation war. My mother could not stay in that place, the place where we were, because it was impossible to earn a living. She had no land and there were many shareholders. We moved here to support my mother. I was born at this time.
Now I live in this village and grow rice on leased land. Some we sell and some we eat.
This deep tube well was installed in December 2010. It is used by 10 families. Before this we used a shallow tube well about ½ km away. It contained arsenic. I did not show symptoms of poisoning. Some others did, but no-one in my family. I had serious diarrhoea twice and wasted a lot of money on this. One time, I remember, 10 years ago, I was sick for 12 days. I had to take oral and intravenous saline, other medication and bed rest. It cost around BDT 1500-2000 for the saline, and doctors fee. At that time we were earning BDT 3000-4000 per month.
Last October 2011 I did the caretaker training with HYSAWA project staff. Since then I’ve changed the washer once and checked the pump valve. In December I could not get water from the tube well so I opened the head. The check valve was faulty, it had become hard. I had to buy a replacement. It cost 35 Tk. The second time there was a problem I could tell that the washer was damaged. There was water in the body but it was not coming through the spout so the problem was in the bucket.
There is another caretaker too, a man, but he is now at work. He prepares locks and keys at Khulna New Market.
In the training I also learnt about safe water use. I learned about appearance. If it is dirty it is no good. I learnt to keep water covered in a pitcher and covered when being moved.
As a Community Volunteer I’ve participated in all the training sessions; hygiene promotion, food hygiene, waste disposal, latrine hygiene. I disseminate what I learn to others. In one month I do two to three meetings. My favourite topic is hygienic latrine improvement because more diseases and virus spread from here so if it is hygienic then most diseases are taken care of.
When it rains the land here is water logged. Last year many latrines were damaged. Some were repaired but others had no money, for that they need Union Parishad assistance. They now need to use unhygienic options, open defecation. There has been a spike in diarrhoea since then. The Union Parishad has given some ring slabs but we need more.
What do I hope for my children? When my daughter is married I will check my son-in laws house. Is there a hygienic latrine or not. Is there safe water or not. I will make sure she is going to a good place.
Case study collected by Communications Officer, HYSAWA. April 2011.