RAUTAHAT, JULY 27

Every year, the Musahar settlement in Judibela, Rautahat, faces an acute shortage of drinking water-and this year is no different.

Located around 4 kilometers northeast of Chandranigahapur Chowk along the East-West Mahendra Highway, the settlement comprises roughly 45 makeshift huts where access to clean water remains a daily struggle.

The marginalized Musahar community, along with residents of nearby Chaudhary Tole, depend on a single public tap situated by the roadside. With about 100 households now reliant on this lone source, long queues and mounting stress have become routine, especially for women.

Urmila Devi Majhi, 45, wakes before dawn each day to fetch water. 'If I'm late, I have to wait in a long line,' she says. 'We've been fighting for water all our lives. I just wish I could drink from my own hand pump once in this lifetime.'

Despite her confidence, Urmila admits that not a single household in the Musahar settlement owns a personal hand pump.

The problem is not new. Resident Suresh Majhi explains that most Musahar families own only 2–3 dhur (about 67–100 sq ft) of land, barely enough for a shelter and a goat shed.

'Even if the government wants to help, where would it install the hand pumps?' he asks. The current shortage, he adds, isn't due only to lack of rainfall-it's a recurring crisis.

A small improvement came last year after Chandrapur Municipality activated a roadside tap by installing a submersible pump and arranging electricity. Previously, residents had to walk 300 meters to fetch water from the Brahma Baba Temple. However, Suresh says, 'We're still far from a solution.'

Some locals believe resettlement is the only way forward. 'How can the government provide all facilities in just 2–3 dhur? Where will water be stored? Where will toilets be built?' questions Lalbabu Majhi.

Adjacent Tharu Tole is also affected. Devrat Chaudhary, 60, says the situation has worsened this year due to prolonged drought. Hand pumps 30–40 feet deep have already dried up.

'The borewell by the ward office is 400 feet deep, so it still works. About 25 Tharu families now depend on that same tap,' he adds. But the increasing demand has led to crowding and difficulty.

Women carry the heaviest burden

The water shortage has disproportionately impacted women. Daily chores like bathing, cleaning, and cooking have become arduous. With hours spent fetching water, childcare and education-particularly for girls-have suffered.

'Most girls don't go to school. They stay home and cook or wash dishes,' says Chanda Majhi.

Open bathing raises safety concerns

Lack of proper bathing facilities forces women to bathe in the open, leading to embarrassment, safety concerns, and potential risks of abuse.

'We have no option but to bathe along the roadside. It's shameful, especially for young girls,' says Devnati Majhi. 'It creates mental stress and increases the risk of sexual harassment.'

Locals have demanded the immediate construction of a community bathing shelter, toilets, and a safe water source.

'For women's safety and dignity, such infrastructure is urgently needed,' urges Urmila Majhi.