Dalit Women and Water: Availability, Access and Discrimination in Rural India

Abstract

The present study identifies the multiplicity of issues and challenges faced by dalit women in accessing water from common, often distant sources of water, across five Indian states. Their reality of poor availability of drinking water was worsened by limited access to common resources due to their caste identity. On account of their social exclusion, dalit women suffer from physical as well as mental anguish. Discrimination against them is rampant on account of untouchability, and verbal and physical abuse accompanied with violence, which is a very real part of their everyday lives.

The Evolution of the Right to Water in India

“…The first articulation of the "right to water" is by Dalits, who have historically faced discrimination in accessing common sources of water due to the caste system [51]. The burden of this discrimination has been disproportionately borne by Dalit women [52]. The Dalit articulation of the "right to water" shows that in societies with entrenched discrimination, formal or status equality does matter, and may be necessary for securing the rights of marginalised groups, even if not by itself sufficient protection to fully secure these rights in the absence of accompanying legislation and appropriate enforcement.…”

“…The position is worse for Dalit women whose access to water is curtailed both by the limited availability of water and social discrimination against Dalits. Discrimination patterns may range from waiting for long periods before being allowed to fill their pots, abusive language, and even physical violence and humiliation at the hands of upper caste people [52].…”

Water quality, sanitation, and hygiene among the tribal community residing in Jawadhi hills, Tamilnadu: An observational study from Southern India

“…Besides identifying the base-line WASH standard and drinking water quality, which may be associated with various diarrheal and non-diarrheal communicable diseases [ 26 27 28 29 ]; the study also unveiled other potential risks for the study population like wage loss due to time spent in fetching water and various social hazards for women and children who fetch water. [ 30 31 ] Therefore, the present study unfolds the opportunity to develop further research questions in this area including identifying the efficacy of various strategies to improve the WASH and drinking water standards. Additionally, the primary care physicians working in the tribal or hard-to-reach areas must be aware of the role of poor WASH practices while treating health conditions that may be related to it.…”

Land Grabbing in Common Property Resources: How Women Social Positions Intersect Access to Natural Resources

“…In the complex caste network of rural India, Dalit and Adivasi women bear the brunt of it due to their unique, multidimensional disadvantage as a minority group within a minority group of women (Chakravarti, 2003; Rege, 2006). Dutta et al (2018), elsewhere, in their study stated, that Dalit women occupy a space in the social hierarchy wherein they face discrimination not only on the bases of caste but also political and economic class and gender where they are located. Dalton’s (2008) study elaborates the plight of Dalit women as ‘Triple Dalit’—meaning, being a woman, then being a poor woman and finally a poor Dalit woman.…”