Changes in a Village after Formation of Water Management Committee

Changes in a Village after Formation of Water Management Committee

In Kurram district of Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA), JEN is helping to set up water supply facilities and improve sanitation in the areas where returnees from refugee sites are living after the conflict

In the areas where water supply facilities are set up, JEN also helps to organize “Water Management Committee” so that the village people can keep maintaining the facilities properly by themselves.

In Stary Pkhay village, one of the areas included in the plan, an interview with village people was held. Mr. Mohammad Jamal, Mr. Maza Khan and Mr. Muhammad were interviewed about the changes in the village after the formation of the committee .

According to them, before the formation of the committee, there were a lot of inter- community tussles and enmity and the village people were not able to sit together and discuss internal and external problems they faced. They fought each other over small issues for a long time and some of them died because of the fights.

Mr. Mohammad Jamal said that with the help of JEN, the village people became willing to sit together and discuss various problems and seek solutions. That led them to organize the Water Management Committee and discuss the most important problem of safe drinking water.

According to Mr. Maza Khan, with the help of the committee, community elders and JEN signed a Memorandum of Understanding promising to cooperate with each other to set up water supply facilities and provide hygiene education. He said that this was a very positive step toward not only solving the problems they are facing now and in the future but also solving the problems on a continuous basis.

Mr. Muhammad also said that before the formation of the committee, they had not been able to sit together and discuss the problems. Now they are working together for the welfare of their village, especially for the stable supply of safe water. Mr. Muhammad himself volunteered to do physical labor for constructing water supply facilities, he said.

They are all committed to continue these activities and support the members of the committee.