Kamala Behera's story
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Authors
Shreeyanka Chowdhury
Issue Date
Type
Language
en
en
en
Keywords
Water and Sanitation
Alternative Title
Abstract
Seventy-five year old Kamala lives in Godipatna, Dehuri Sahi, ward no. 16 of Choudwar with her five sons, their wives and children. She leaves it to her daughters-in-law to share household chores among themselves, while she roams around the slum, visiting houses and gossiping with other women or spending time with her grandchildren throughout the day. Not having a toilet in their community turned out to be a costly affair for Kamala and her family.
Kamala had undergone a surgery for a fractured thigh, some months ago. She had fallen and fractured one of her thighs when she was attacked by a snake hiding in the bushes, next to which Kamala was squatting in the open field outside their slum during her daily ablutions. She suffered for two months while spending huge amount on medical expenses for fixing her broken bones.
“It’s been an expensive surgery and my entire family had to bear the financial burden of it. I also suffered a lot of pain only because of the lack of proper toilets.”
All throughout her recovery time and even now, she can only go to the field with the help of at least two people who accompany her and stay vigil as carries out her rituals.
“Going out to defecate in the open is not only difficult for old people like me, our daughters and daughters-in-law are also vulnerable when they go about their daily routine in the open. Men ogle at them from behind the walls or throw stones at them,” she says, talking about how unsafe it is for women to defecate in the open.
“Different seasons come with different problems. Monsoons are treacherous when the field is slippery from the accumulated water. We have to carry water with us all that distance. My legs start hurting half the way, every time I have walk to the field.
Eager to start using the toilets constructed under Swachh Samudai project in March 2019, Kamala adds, “The new Swachh Samudai toilets that are being built have given hope to my old and broken bones. I don’t have to ask somebody to help me every time I have to use the toilet or be scared of snakes.”
Swachh Samudai Project is being implemented in Choudwar Municipality, Odisha, India with support of H&M Foundation which seeks to demonstrate sustainable models of sanitation service delivery and enhance the capacity of the municipality and other state actors to deliver effective water and sanitation services in the area.
Seventy-five year old Kamala lives in Godipatna, Dehuri Sahi, ward no. 16 of Choudwar with her five sons, their wives and children. She leaves it to her daughters-in-law to share household chores among themselves, while she roams around the slum, visiting houses and gossiping with other women or spending time with her grandchildren throughout the day. Not having a toilet in their community turned out to be a costly affair for Kamala and her family. Kamala had undergone a surgery for a fractured thigh, some months ago. She had fallen and fractured one of her thighs when she was attacked by a snake hiding in the bushes, next to which Kamala was squatting in the open field outside their slum during her daily ablutions. She suffered for two months while spending huge amount on medical expenses for fixing her broken bones. “It’s been an expensive surgery and my entire family had to bear the financial burden of it. I also suffered a lot of pain only because of the lack of proper toilets.” All throughout her recovery time and even now, she can only go to the field with the help of at least two people who accompany her and stay vigil as carries out her rituals. “Going out to defecate in the open is not only difficult for old people like me, our daughters and daughters-in-law are also vulnerable when they go about their daily routine in the open. Men ogle at them from behind the walls or throw stones at them,” she says, talking about how unsafe it is for women to defecate in the open. “Different seasons come with different problems. Monsoons are treacherous when the field is slippery from the accumulated water. We have to carry water with us all that distance. My legs start hurting half the way, every time I have walk to the field. Eager to start using the toilets constructed under Swachh Samudai project in March 2019, Kamala adds, “The new Swachh Samudai toilets that are being built have given hope to my old and broken bones. I don’t have to ask somebody to help me every time I have to use the toilet or be scared of snakes.” Swachh Samudai Project is being implemented in Choudwar Municipality, Odisha, India with support of H&M Foundation which seeks to demonstrate sustainable models of sanitation service delivery and enhance the capacity of the municipality and other state actors to deliver effective water and sanitation services in the area.
Seventy-five year old Kamala lives in Godipatna, Dehuri Sahi, ward no. 16 of Choudwar with her five sons, their wives and children. She leaves it to her daughters-in-law to share household chores among themselves, while she roams around the slum, visiting houses and gossiping with other women or spending time with her grandchildren throughout the day. Not having a toilet in their community turned out to be a costly affair for Kamala and her family. Kamala had undergone a surgery for a fractured thigh, some months ago. She had fallen and fractured one of her thighs when she was attacked by a snake hiding in the bushes, next to which Kamala was squatting in the open field outside their slum during her daily ablutions. She suffered for two months while spending huge amount on medical expenses for fixing her broken bones. “It’s been an expensive surgery and my entire family had to bear the financial burden of it. I also suffered a lot of pain only because of the lack of proper toilets.” All throughout her recovery time and even now, she can only go to the field with the help of at least two people who accompany her and stay vigil as carries out her rituals. “Going out to defecate in the open is not only difficult for old people like me, our daughters and daughters-in-law are also vulnerable when they go about their daily routine in the open. Men ogle at them from behind the walls or throw stones at them,” she says, talking about how unsafe it is for women to defecate in the open. “Different seasons come with different problems. Monsoons are treacherous when the field is slippery from the accumulated water. We have to carry water with us all that distance. My legs start hurting half the way, every time I have walk to the field. Eager to start using the toilets constructed under Swachh Samudai project in March 2019, Kamala adds, “The new Swachh Samudai toilets that are being built have given hope to my old and broken bones. I don’t have to ask somebody to help me every time I have to use the toilet or be scared of snakes.” Swachh Samudai Project is being implemented in Choudwar Municipality, Odisha, India with support of H&M Foundation which seeks to demonstrate sustainable models of sanitation service delivery and enhance the capacity of the municipality and other state actors to deliver effective water and sanitation services in the area.