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VOL. 28, NO. 24, March 20, 2009 (Chaitra 07 2065)
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Making Differences
Launched by three NGOs with the support of Water Aid Nepal and UN-HABITAT, the Water Environmental and Sanitation and Hygiene Program WESH brings a big change
By KESHAB POUDEL
With the implementation of WESH program, the poor people living in three areas Bharatpur, Narayan Tole in Kathmandu and Lubhu in Lalitpur have seen drastic change in their livelihood through the proper sanitation as well as supply of drinking water.
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WESH: Making differences |
With the support from Water Aid and UN-Habitat, two local NGOs Lumanti Support Group of Shelter and Center for Integrated Urban Development proved how a small financial contribution can bring transformation in the life of people living in the areas.
The people of Lubhu, an old Newar city, 15 kilometres east of Capital, Narayan Tole, a slum behind Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital and three slums in Bharatpur, 150 Kilometre south west of capital, had never realized that they will see such a transformation in their areas in such a short span of time.
“When we started the program, overwhelming number of houses did not have any toilet and there was scarcity of drinking water,” said Padma Sunder Joshi director of Center for Integrated Urban Development, which runs the program in Lubhu. “Now, there is hundred percent coverage of toilets as well as drinking water.”
Lumanti Support Group for Shelter too has its own experience. Covering large areas of two districts Narayan Tole of Kathamndu, a slum and three slums in Bharatpur, Lumanti too completely brought the change in these areas.
“Ignored and neglected, the slums of Naryantole and Bharatpur were in pathetic situation. With the supply of contaminated water and lack of toilets, the people living in these areas faced severe health crisis. After the completion of the project, the situation has changed now,” said Lajana Manandhar, director Lumanti Support Group for Shelter.
WESH program, a joint initiation of Water Aid Nepal and Water for Asian Cities program of UN-HABITAT has been implemented in 12 different squatter and slum communities of Bharatpur through Lumanti. “The Water Aid Nepal and UN-HABITAT provided techno-financial support to Lumanti for implementation of this program with aim to ensure safe and adequate water supply, integrated with better environmental sanitation and health,” said Sanjaya Adhikary Country Representative of Water Aid Nepal. “Water Aid Nepal has been working in Nepal for more than two decades to support water and sanitation program.”
“UN-HABITAT is proud to be a part of this program which helps to bring the change in the life of people,” said Roshan Raj Shrestha, chief Technical Advisor South Asia Region, and Water for Cities Program UN-HABITAT.
With the limited budget the government is also making efforts to provide the water and sanitation for all by 2015. “The government will replicate this program in many other areas where people are living without such basic rights,” said Suman Prasad Sharma, joint secretary at Water and Sanitation Division, Ministry of Physical Plaling and Works.
“We are happy to organize this dissemination of WESH program which is successfully completed,” said Anita Pradhan, documentation Manger of Water Aid Nepal.
