A Success Story of Access to Safe Water: Tumpa Pal, Ranirhat Branch, IDF

Since 2021, IDF has been implementing the Water Credit Adoption (WCAD) model in collaboration with Water.org and INM. The objective of the WCAD project is to ensure sustainable access to safe water and sanitation services for people in remote and underprivileged areas. Through this project, IDF provides safe water and sanitation loans on easy terms to marginalized communities, aiming to enhance financial development as well as ensure a healthy life for its members within its working areas. Having successfully completed the first two phases, IDF is now executing the third phase of the project focusing on further expanding and consolidating the efforts initiated in the previous phases. This phase aims to enhance the reach and impact of the project, ensuring that more communities gain access to sustainable solutions for safe water and sanitation. By building on the lessons learned and successes of the earlier phases, the third phase seeks to deepen the program’s effectiveness, involve more stakeholders, and address any challenges that have emerged. It represents a crucial step in achieving long-term objectives and securing lasting benefits for the targeted populations. A case story of one beneficiary of this project is presented below.

Tumpa Pal is a resident of Bhuiya Colony in Ghagra Union, Kaukhali Upazila, under Rangamati District, Bangladesh. Although she was born and raised in Cox’s Bazar, she has been living permanently in Ghagra after marrying Ujjal Kanti Pal. When Tumpa arrived at her in-laws’ home, she observed that most households in the area lacked proper sanitation and access to safe drinking water due to its mountainous geography. At that time, around 95% of the village depended solely on the ‘Gayechara’ stream, formed by mountain springs, for drinking and household water. Adapting to this village lifestyle was challenging for Tumpa, who, like others, used the stream for bathing, collecting water for cooking, washing dishes and clothes, and fetching drinking water from small earthen wells beside the stream. Due to financial constraints, the residents, including Tumpa’s family, could not afford to install a tube well for safe water. Consequently, they often suffered from various waterborne diseases.

Like many other villagers in the community, Tumpa Pal’s in-laws’ household constantly battled waterborne diseases due to the lack of access to clean and safe drinking water. The absence of proper sanitation and reliable water sources meant that illnesses were a common occurrence. During this challenging period, Tumpa gave birth to her first son, adding to her responsibilities and concerns.

The health challenges were relentless with Tumpa, her in-laws, and her infant son frequently suffering from conditions such as diarrhea and cholera. These illnesses not only posed a significant health risk but also strained the family’s resources. Medical expenses, including doctor visits, prescriptions, and medicines, consumed a large portion of the household’s limited income, making it difficult for them to save or invest in other needs. This financial strain led to mounting anxiety for Tumpa, as she worried about the well-being of her child and the overall stability of her family. The cycle of illness and medical costs left her in a constant state of worry and concern for the future.

After seven years of married life, Tumpa Pal learned about IDF’s microcredit program through a neighbor. On November 30, 2015, she joined as a member of Center No. 83 of IDF’s Ranirhat branch. To support her husband’s income growth, Tumpa Pal took loans at various times. They were consistently committed to improving their financial situation by investing the loans in income-generating activities. In this situation, one day during an IDF center meeting, she learned through the field organizer that loan assistance was being provided under the WCAD program for safe water facilities and proper sanitation. The Field organizer discussed the health benefits and safe water access. 

Realizing the potential long-term benefits, Tumpa decided to pursue a loan for installing safe water infrastructure. With her family’s consent, she discussed the program with her husband, who expressed interest and offered support. To strengthen the initiative, they also consulted with five neighboring families, who shared similar struggles with water access and health issues. These families collectively agreed to pool their resources and jointly install a deep tube well, a project estimated at a total cost of BDT 110,000. Each family committed to contributing BDT 22,000 toward the project. To meet her share, Tumpa took out a loan from IDF. Currently, Tumpa’s family, along with the other participating families, uses the deep tube well for safe drinking water, cooking, bathing, and other needs. 

Additionally, the families installed water storage tanks to ensure an adequate supply during times of high demand. This collective effort not only improved the quality of life for Tumpa’s family but also fostered a sense of community cooperation. The health improvements and reduced medical costs allowed them to allocate more of their income to other essential areas, contributing to a more stable and prosperous life.

When asked about her current thoughts on safe water, Tumpa remarked, “IDF is more than a loan program. It is a name for a positive change in people’s mindset and environment. If I hadn’t become a member of IDF, my family would probably still be at the mercy of waterborne diseases due to using the stream water. Today, through the use of safe water, my family and I are healthy and protected from financial and physical harm. I am thankful and grateful to IDF for this excellent initiative.”

Tumpa further shared, “Before being part of the WCAD program, we used to complete our daily tasks using contaminated water from the nearby stream, which often made us sick. But since using water from the deep tube well, we’ve been healthy.” Her husband added, “Previously, we struggled a lot with water issues and couldn’t access safe water. Thanks to IDF’s support, we now have access to safe water, and my family is living a healthy life.”

This newfound access to clean water brought significant positive changes to her household. The days of constant worry and frequent illnesses from waterborne diseases became a thing of the past. With clean water readily available, Tumpa’s family experienced improved health, reducing medical expenses that previously consumed much of their income. This change allowed them to allocate more resources toward better nutrition, education for their child, and investments in other essential areas of their lives. The collective decision by Tumpa and her neighboring families to install the deep tube well not only secured their physical well-being but also provided a sense of community resilience and empowerment. IDF’s initiative had far-reaching effects, turning a cycle of health challenges into one of sustained wellness and financial stability.

Currently, following her example, neighbors have become aware of the importance of safe water and sanitation. Many have taken loans or used their own funds to install tube wells and toilets, resulting in most residents in the area now having access to safe water and sanitation.