RAJSHAHI, Mar 27 (BSS): Speakers at a community meeting in Rajshahi today underscored the need for ensuring rights to safe drinking water and sanitation to the slum dwellers for their sound health.
They viewed the issue of safe drinking water and sanitation isn't only individual or personal problem but also the national problem. So, there's no alternative to ensure transparency, accountability and good governance everywhere in the sector.
The observations came at the meeting styled 'Action Research on Urban Poverty Reduction at Zianagar Slum in Rajshahi City project' held at Zianagar slum. The Village Education Resource Centre (VERC) organised the meeting in association with the Water Aid Bangladesh to mark the closing of the project.
Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation Mosaddeque Hossain Bulbul, who addressed the workshop as the chief guest, says the population of slums in the city has been increasing over the last couple of decades along with the expansion of the city.
Poverty in urban areas creates slums and it is largely due to the transfer of the rural poor people to urban areas in search of proper facilitation. The presence of slums and their unhealthy environment within city is an ever-present threat to public health.
NGOs should come forward to take necessary steps and effective measures to ensure suitable facilities and start more programmes in slum areas on the issue of water supply and sanitation.
Moreover, specific rules and regulations need to be established by the governing bodies to provide adequate water supply, sanitary facilities in the slums, he added.
With VERC Regional Coordinator Tapan Kumar Shaha in the chair, Rajshahi WASA Secretary Shafiqul Islam and RCC Ward Councilors Habibur Rahman and Tahera Begum Mili also spoke, among others.
In his welcome speech, VERC area manager, Golam Mostofa, said the VERC was putting out the best of its efforts by implementing water and sanitation programme in the slum areas.
The WatSan activities are being carried out in terms of promotion of community latrines and supply water connection for safe water use promotion with limited hygiene education for awareness raising.
He, however, said there should be more need-based measures for providing water supply and sanitation facilities for the slum dwellers to bring them out of the vicious circle of poverty.
