A Discussion on India's Water Quality

Many places throughout India are considered to be water insecure, meaning that the people lack the amount of water necessary to survive. In fact, 163 million Indians lack access to safe drinking water, while 500 children under the age of five die from diarrhea each day. For families that subsist from farm labor, the tragedy is doubled: in addition to the distress of losing a child, they have to cope with one less set of hands to contribute to farmwork. But why aren’t people aware of this,  and why aren’t they fixing it?

One of India’s greatest factors in their economy is agriculture - producing fresh fruits, vegetables, and crops for consumers to purchase. In fact, almost 20% of India’s GDP is agriculture. With such a high reliance on crops comes a high reliance on safe and accessible water at all times. However, in India, this is a major problem. According to many farmers throughout India, safe water is so inaccessible that many farmers depend on rainwater for water to drink and use for their crops. Although rain is considered safe and healthy to drink, it is extremely unreliable, especially outside of the monsoon season. This leads many farmers to debt. With failing crops failing and limited drinking water, over 1,000 farmers take their lives each year. 

But how can this cycle of dirty water, infinite debt, and failing crops be broken? The other bit of India’s GDP comprises industry and factories. In fact, around 25% of India’s GDP is made up of industrial work. The problem with India’s industry, however, is not the waste. The problem lies in the wastewater treatment: only 60% of India’s wastewater is properly treated, leaving a shocking 40% to pollute clean and holy rivers. When wastewater is not treated, it contaminates villages and other bodies of water, rendering the clean water undrinkable. Untreated wastewater releases toxic metals and heavy substances, leading to many health and occupational hazards. As this wastewater isn’t treated, farmers suffer the heavy consequences, which can ultimately lead to death. 

In India, farmers aren’t the only ones to suffer the consequences. One accepted norm throughout India is that men usually will make money for the family, and women will stay at home and tend the house, cook, clean, and take care of children. While this is very sexist and gender-stereotypical, many women fall victim to this system. Because women are expected to take care of the house, they are also expected to wash the clothes, bathe the children, and grab water from the nearest source. Unfortunately, all of these tasks are usually performed in contaminated rivers, wells, or lakes. The NGO International Development Organization estimates that Indian women spend 150 million work days every year fetching water. Thus, this constant contact with contaminated water leaves millions of women sick every year, flattening their hopes of pursuing a paid job to break the common norm. 

While there aren’t any easy immediate solutions, many farmers took this into consideration when they voted in the 2024 Indian General Elections, lasting from April 19th to June 1st. As Modi begins to work, farmers hope that the government and the BJP will take their needs into account.