Water Woes to Water Wins: A Roadmap for Sustainability in Rural Hazaribagh

Abstract

Water is finite and irreplaceable. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Earth consists of only 71% of water out of which only 3% are freshwater and even in this more than 99% is unusable by humans and other living beings. Less than 1% are available for human use. This study brought to light the realization of the need to save water. 

Sustainable Development Goals, a successor of Millenium Development Goals, was initiated by the United Nations in 2015 with the agenda 2030, to achieve 17 goals and 169 targets. It deals with ZERO GOALS, to reduce poverty, hunger to zero. It does not talk about the attainment of certain targets but to achieve completely without compromising the need of the future generation. Understanding the importance of clean water, for the requirement of living beings, among the 17 goals of Sustainable Development Goals, one of the goals has also been set for clean water as the 6^th goal “attainment of clean water and sanitation”.

My study is based on the condition, consumption, sources and problems of clean water availability in the rural areas of Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. The samples from two different villages of Hazaribagh district has been taken- Lasodh and Bodra form Churchu Block. Where some of the data are collected through the survey method while some are through observation method by visiting these two places. 

The years for the achievement of these goals are set as 2030 running from 2015. With 9 years having passed and 6 years remaining, it’s important to study the achievements or the extent to which they have been achieved especially in rural areas.