The 2009 World Water Week in Stockholm formally began early this week with the theme: Responding to Global Changes—Accessing Water for the Common Good. In terms of response what was important is the fact that world leaders in science, government and civil society turned up in large numbers to challenge the world to think in new ways about the role of water in peace, economic development and public health. The annual world water week is indeed a time to do some reality check on the problems facing a majority of people especially in poor countries where access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation remains unfulfilled mainly because of poor governance, corruption and lack of political accountability. And this assessment can begin right here in our local context.
It is well known that despite more than five decades of Statehood many of us even in urban centres do not have proper access to clean drinking water. One can just imagine the condition of countless more in less privileged places across the State. We have a specific department dealing with water supply and despite the several crores of public money pouring in for the last few decades there is no quality service to show for the enormous entry into the development books. Similarly we have other departments looking after sanitation and public health. Just recently the Central Ministry of Rural Development sanctioned Rs 10.59 Crore under the Centre’s Total Sanitation Campaign of the Central Rural Sanitation Programme for 2009-2010. In Nagaland the grant-in-aid for the sanitation campaign is meant for implementation in Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung, Mon, Peren, Phek and Zunheboto district. Just how well such public money is spent remains the moot point.
In all this the poor delivery of public service remains a matter of concern and is responsible for the equally poor health scenario in most parts of our State. As recently as yesterday, reports have come in of an epidemic in some villages under Phek district where close to 13 lives have been lost. And what is most cruel is that most of the victims are very young children. This latest incident also brings to question the performance of the concerned departments and whether they are able to deliver on the various challenges such as providing clean drinking water, proper sanitation besides creating awareness and communicating about food safety and hygiene. Our health system, if not in a state of collapse, is certainly in need of revitalizing itself. Health facilities and supply of medicines will have to improve. Doctors and health workers in the State will have to perform and run the primary/community health centres or district hospitals with greater dedication.
At the end of the day, the concerned departments such as the PHED, Health & Family Welfare will have to transform itself and the lackadaisical work culture it thrives on into a more effective and professionally run public organization so as to change the lives and health of countless of our other less privileged citizens who remain poor, neglected and outside the mainstream development process. Our doctors and engineers are encouraged to find solutions that enable the poorer segments of our society’s access to these services while at the same time ensuring that the departments that deliver those services themselves remain both functional and relevant.
