The grassroots people at Laksham in Comilla are installing and maintaining arsenic mitigation units for supplying safe water by forming committees in their  areas, reports BSS. Under this initiative, 26,000 people, including women and children of 5,080 families in three unions of Laksham are protecting themselves from arsenic contamination. Laksham Upazila Health Complex and World Vision Bangladesh are giving assistance to the locals in this job. Laksham upazila of Comilla is one of the country’s most arsenic contaminated areas. Bangladesh Arsenic Mitigation Water Supply Project (BAMWSP) survey reveals that water of 79.42 percent tube-wells is arsenic contaminated in Laksham. According to the survey, 1,791 people in Laksham are suffering from arsenicosis. Public Health Engineering Department sources said there are 3,303 arsenic affected people in Laksham upazila. The people of the upazila are not getting much arsenic-free water to drink. During a recent field visit to Laksham, it was found that the people are drinking and using arsenic contaminated water. They are not aware about the diseases caused by arsenic and consider arsenicosis as an ordinary skin disease. Laksham Upazila Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Mizanur Rahman said World Vision Bangladesh is working to create awareness among the people in Laksham about arsenic.