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To celebrate International Women’s Day today (Tuesday 8 March), WaterAid is sharing stories of some of the remarkable women working and volunteering in water and sanitation projects around the world.
Women like Ram Rati, who is head of the Women’s Water and Sanitation Group in Harijan Basti, Delhi.
When she first moved to Harijan Basti, Ram Rati hardly knew any of her neighbours. As an illegal settlement, the community didn’t even have a name, and everyone knew they could be moved on by the government at any time.
Today, things couldn’t be more different. As well as heading up the Water and Sanitation Group, Ram Rati runs the community’s water distribution system. She also champions women’s empowerment within the village – and it all began with a single conversation.
Ram Rati, the head of the Women’s Water and Sanitation Group, Delhi. Credit: WaterAid/Adam Ferguson
“Before, no-one used to listen to us,” Ram Rati explains. “Then Jaswinder [from WaterAid’s partner organisation FORCE] said she wanted to improve the community.
“I didn’t even know that was possible. But she said: ‘if you are with me, we can work it out’.”
Before they began working with FORCE, people were crossing a busy main road to collect water, and there had been tragic consequences.
One girl, aged just 10, never returned home from the trip and is believed to have been kidnapped, while a boy – making the journey in the early morning – was hit by a car and killed.
“We met with the staff from FORCE and thought, we will provide water in every household and not allow such accidents to happen again,” Ram Rati says.
Now every day, she makes sure all residents receive the safe water they need. She also shares important hygiene messages, and the impact on the health and happiness of the community has been profound.
“There have been a lot of changes. We all work together now,” Ram Rati says. “If the NGO stays with us, after five years we will say that we have the most beautiful community.”
Meet more remarkable women who are changing lives around the world: www.wateraid.org/IWD
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