Women and Rainwater Harvesting: Catalysing Leadership in Bangalore

Women and Water : Catalysing

Leadership in Bangalore

Shubha Ramachandran and

Amy Mitchell

BIOME Environmental Trust

Urban Water: Ferns Paradise: Context

- Gated Layout

- 46 acres, 340 plots

- No Municipal water connection

- Dried borewells

- Lakes in the vicinity

Urban Water – Women’s initiatives- Inclusiveness and

awareness : Water Walk

- 30 Recharge Wells

- Maintenance of recharge wells

- Regulation of supply

- Metering of connections

- Increasing block tariff for water

- Reuse of treated waste water

- Promoting RWH in the community

- No individual borewells

WOMEN – Driving Principles

- Community participation- Strong sense of sustainability- Emphasis on long-term- Manage with existing resources - Sense of fairness

Urban Water – Women’s initiatives

http://chaiwithlakshmi.in/2012/episodes/society/rainwater-harvesting.html

• Data monitoring• Numbering of wells• Concern for safety

- Falling water table

- Fluoride in water

- Mid-day meal scheme

- Maintenance of toilets

- Government Programme:

Suvarnajala : Rainwater harvesting in schools

RWH in Rural Schools: Context

Rural Water – Women’s initiatives

- Storing rainwater

- Withdrawal through hand pump in school kitchen

- Bacteriological filter for drinking water

- Measuring rainfall

- Maintenance of RWH systems

- Usage of rainwater for cooking and cleaning

- Cleaning of storm water drains

- Education of children

- Fluoride testing

WOMEN – Driving Principles - Concerned about heath and hygiene- Strong sense of sustainability- Emphasis on long-term- Manage with existing resources - Sense of fairness

What brought the women together to lead ?

- Responsible for water management at home

- Concern for children's health

- Strong belief in sustainability

- Strong sense of fairness

- Ability, patience, diligence and time to work with all stakeholders on long term solutions

Shubha Ramachandranshubha@biome-solutions.com

Biome Environmental Trust(Rainwater Club)

1022, 1st floor, 6th Block, HMT Layout, Vidyaranyapura,

Bangalore – 560 097, Phone : 080 41672790

Thank You !!

- Mr Vishwanath- BIOME Team- Ferns Paradise- Government Schools- Contractors