The Doon Mozaic, Swachh Bharat and Dilemma of Dehradun Swacch Bharat and Dilemma of Dehradun | Page 14

There have been an overwhelming number of reposts and evidences in the past
six to seven years that directly point towards the fact that environmental con-
taminations have an adverse effect on the reproductive health of women.
Women, especially those who are pregnant and/or are living in marginal subur-
ban or rural areas in a developing country like India, are particularly susceptible
to environmental threats. The reproductive system of pregnant women is espe-
cially vulnerable to environmental contaminants. Every step in the reproductive
progression can be altered by toxic substances in the environment. These toxic
substances increase the risk of abortion, birth defects, fetal growth retardation,
and perinatal death. Numerous chemicals pertaining in the Indian environment
due to excessive pollution result in such adverse effects on women’s health.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aims at depleting many such toxins from the environ-
ment. It is expected that as the campaign proceeds, the levels of Organophos-
phates and Heavy Metals would decrease considerably from drinking water
available in the remotest areas of India. With such toxins out of our environ-
mental system, reproductive problems in women would decrease by at least
24% and child mortality rates would decrease by at least 5%. In rural areas, the
supply of clean water solely has been improving the living conditions of wom-
en. The scarcity of clean water in India has been a worrisome issue for many
years now. 76 million people in India lack access to water that is safe to drink
or even be used for other household purposes. Most of our rivers are polluted
and our groundwater is rapidly depleting due to over usage. Amidst all these
issues, due to traditional gender roles, women bear the responsibility of secur-
ing water for the household, which often means standing in long lines or walk-
ing many miles to and from the water source. In rural areas of states with scarce
water sources, women have to walk for long distances with empty posts and
walk back with those very pots filled with water in order to cook or go about
any household chores. Not only do these women have to travel on foot for such
long distances, but also have to wait in long lines in order to secure water from
a sole source of water. Many a times, due to lack of water supply, these women
have to go back home without any water. These women also must dispose of
dirty water and human waste and rarely have access to safe or private sanitation