Suffering was the only thing that remained constant in their lives. The 16 families of Etimpara area under Labsha Union Parishad have been living a somewhat stranded life since 2000 when a massive flood had engulfed their land. The flood water had not receded ever since.
There is no source of income for the people in their area, so they have to go out to seek their livelihood elsewhere. Every time they go out, they use rafts made up of crushed pieces of polystyrene blocks because their locality is surrounded by water on all sides.
Despite living in a tiny piece of land completely encircled by water, the people had no access to any safe water source in their area which they could drink from. In order to collect water, they always had to cross the water body and leave their area.
“Wherever we go, we always carry a container with us to bring some water,” Sheuli Begum, a resident of Etimpara in Satkhira Sadar Upazila in Satkhira district, said. “The tiny little children who can walk here know how to row a raft.”
“This is because if you want to drink, you must first learn the use of a raft and then leave home.”
The Bangla word “Etimpara” means a place for orphan. The name was coined by the very people who live there. When asked why they picked such a bizarre name for their place, another resident Hajira Begum said, “We always felt like orphaned children. Nobody ever watched out for us and provided us with any help.”
Many a times the rafts turned upside down while being used, and the people boarding the raft fell into the water. Locals said the water in the lake is very much polluted. If they come in contact with the water, it causes itchiness and blister on their skin.
The people saw the first flicker of hope when community organiser under HYSAWA-SDC Project Bondona Mondol visited their place a few months back. They were assured that a deep tube-well would be installed but they need to make a small community contribution for that.
Trapped in poverty, the people of Etimpara always find it difficult to make ends meet. That’s why they were not so sure if they could manage the amount required. Seeing their ordeal, residents of neighbouring Taltola Para had offered their help, promising to pay the money on Etimpara’s behalf if they failed. However, residents of Etimpara area have managed to roll up the contribution money without outside help.
While the wait for tube-well was nearing its end, the Etimpara people were faced with another problem. The mechanics who had come to install the tube-well refused to work because they said they could not carry their equipment across the water. Immediately the Etimpara people came up with a solution. They said they would carry the equipment on their shoulder if that’s what it takes to get the work done.
The years of ordeal for drinking water have finally come to a close. They are still struggling to make a meagre living, yet they are pleased that their life has changed for the better.
Case study collected by Syed Muhammad Shoeb, Documentation Officer, HYSAWA, November 2014