. I had shared how Megh Pyne Abhiyan through its local partner - Samta in Khagaria (supported by Gramyasheel, Kosi Seva Sadan, Ghoghardiha Prakhand Swarajya Vikas Sangh and Water Action) has been able to collaborate with the district administration to mainstream issues concerning water and sanitation for the flood prone areas.

In Supaul, the district administration requested our local partner, Gramyasheel to write about alternative drinking water practices (appropriate for the district) for a publication - Supaul Zila Ki Smarika, brought out by the district administration. A definite indication of the WATSAN practices being recognized at the local level. Though the collaboration is an ongoing process which would lead to positive results if time, ideas and perseverance are invested appropriately.

In addition, the interest shown by the print media recently towards alternative drinking water and sanitation practices has further strengthened our resolve to continue what we collectively initiated way back in 2005, irrespective of the existing challenges. The print media has been writing about WATSAN issues and possible alternative options in which the local solutions that MPA has been propagating, have been featured regularly, because of which there is a growing interest amongst people towards accessing similar options across the five campaign districts - Supaul, Saharsa, Khagaria, Madhubani, and Paschim Champaran. Though many would not consider this as an indicator of progress, but in the context of North Bihar, it is a step towards making one.

This is just a small attempt to profile the long drawn process of change which got initiated six years back in a region where drinking water was not considered as an issue of relevance at all and today different institutions in region are providing space to local mechanisms for addressing the problems locally/regionally!

Best wishes,
Eklavya Prasad
Practitioner
Megh Pyne Abhiyan