"Water is Life" Campaign Boosts Safe Water Awareness in Kottayam

Kottayam: The "Water is Life" public health campaign, aimed at ensuring safe drinking water and preventing waterborne diseases, is progressing successfully in Kottayam district. As part of this intensive action plan, over 1,19,845 wells have already been chlorinated. Additionally, water tanks in 26,840 households and 891 institutions, as well as 1,317 institutional wells and 514 public wells, have also undergone chlorination.

The campaign is designed to tackle serious health threats like amoebic meningoencephalitis and other waterborne illnesses. In the first phase, all wells in the district are being scientifically chlorinated. Local governing bodies are providing the required bleaching powder and chlorine tablets free of cost. All public water storage facilities, household and private institution water tanks must be cleaned by their respective owners.

From the 8th to the 30th of this month, awareness programs are being conducted in schools under the leadership of the Department of General Education. In higher secondary schools, water quality testing is being carried out using lab facilities set up by the Haritha Kerala Mission. Between September 20 and November 1, all water bodies and streams receiving waste will be cleaned, and access routes to contaminated sites will be blocked to prevent further pollution.

The program is being implemented through a coordinated effort led by the Haritha Kerala Mission, with support from the Health Department, Local Self-Government Department, and the Education Department. Grassroots participation is a key feature of the campaign, involving Kudumbashree members, ASHA workers, MGNREGA workers, social workers, Anganwadi staff, and local volunteers.