‘WASH for Tea Pickers’ project

People get safe water supply thru pipeline

Situated 25 kilometers away from Moulvibazar's Srimangal upazila sadar, Alubari is a remote hillock area. A total of 67 families live in the hillock, which is about 120-foot high from the ground. The poor people work as labourers at the tea garden to earn their living.           

Once, there had been no arrangement of safe drinking water in this hillock, let alone other amenities. People used to collect water for their household use from a natural fountain, which is half a kilometer away. There was only one tube-well on the slopes of the hillock. All household chores, including cooking, used to be done with the untreated water of the fountain.

Diseases such as diarrhea and typhoid were common among more than 300 people of Alubari. Now, that situation has changed. Alubari tea garden workers now have access to safe water, thanks to 'WASH for Tea Pickers' project of a non-government organisation.

The 'WASH for Tea Pickers' project of Institute of Development Affairs (IDEA) has made this change for the underprivileged tea workers of the remote area. Under the purview of the project, a deep tube-well and water tank with 10 thousand liters of capacity was set up. The submersible pump brings water directly into the reserve tank. From there, water is supplied to the 67 families through a pipeline. There is a tap station for 5 to 7 families to collect water. Apart from this, more than 50 tube-wells have been installed in the comparatively low level areas of Alubari. A concrete-made structure has also been built nearby for taking bath.      

The arrangement for safe water has also been ensured for the people of nearby Meknichara, Tiprachara and Majdihi areas. Through which, the inhabitants of these hillock areas can collect water easily.          

Bijoy Hazra, president of Alubari Tea Valley, said tea workers built settlements in the remote area many years ago depending on availability of water from natural fountains. He added 'WASH for Tea Pickers' project has been able to ensure safe water for tea workers in the area.     

Mrinal Kranti Das, an engineer of the project, said implementation of the project had not been easy because of the soil condition.

IDEA launched the project in Srimangal in October, 2016. Project manager Pankaj Ghosh Dastidar said 'WASH for Tea Pickers' project was a challenge to improve the living standards of the tea workers of remote areas who are deprived of modern amenities.       

A 15-member managing committee has been formed to run this water supply facility. Each beneficiary family makes a contribution of Tk 10 per month to a fund for maintenance of the facility.

Donor organisation WaterAid Bangladesh gives financial and technical support to the IDEA for the implementation of 'WASH for Tea Pickers' project.

 

WASH for Tea Pickers project

People get safe water supply thru pipeline

Situated 25 kilometers away from Moulvibazars Srimangal upazila sadar, Alubari is a remote hillock area. A total of 67 families live in the hillock, which is about 120-foot high from the ground. The poor people work as labourers at the tea garden to earn their living. Once, there had been no arrangement of safe drinking water in this hillock, let alone other amenities. People used to collect water for their household use from a natural fountain, which is half a kilometer away. There was only one tube-well on the slopes of the hillock. All household chores, including cooking, used to be done with the untreated water of the fountain. Diseases such as diarrhea and typhoid were common among more than 300 people of Alubari. Now, that situation has changed. Alubari tea garden workers now have access to safe water, thanks to WASH for Tea Pickers project of a non-government organisation. The WASH for Tea Pickers project of Institute of Development Affairs (IDEA) has made this change for the underprivileged tea workers of the remote area. Under the purview of the project, a deep tube-well and water tank with 10 thousand liters of capacity was set up. The submersible pump brings water directly into the reserve tank. From there, water is supplied to the 67 families through a pipeline. There is a tap station for 5 to 7 families to collect water. Apart from this, more than 50 tube-wells have been installed in the comparatively low level areas of Alubari. A concrete-made structure has also been built nearby for taking bath. The arrangement for safe water has also been ensured for the people of nearby Meknichara, Tiprachara and Majdihi areas. Through which, the inhabitants of these hillock areas can collect water easily. Bijoy Hazra, president of Alubari Tea Valley, said tea workers built settlements in the remote area many years ago depending on availability of water from natural fountains. He added WASH for Tea Pickers project has been able to ensure safe water for tea workers in the area. Mrinal Kranti Das, an engineer of the project, said implementation of the project had not been easy because of the soil condition. IDEA launched the project in Srimangal in October, 2016. Project manager Pankaj Ghosh Dastidar said WASH for Tea Pickers project was a challenge to improve the living standards of the tea workers of remote areas who are deprived of modern amenities. A 15-member managing committee has been formed to run this water supply facility. Each beneficiary family makes a contribution of Tk 10 per month to a fund for maintenance of the facility. Donor organisation WaterAid Bangladesh gives financial and technical support to the IDEA for the implementation of WASH for Tea Pickers project.