Brandix launches Jalavahini
A pioneering initiative to empower women community leaders involved
in water resources management in rural Sri Lanka has been launched by
the Brandix Group, in recognition of the fact that community-based
organisations (CBOs) are responsible for a sixth of the country's water
supply.
The programme titled 'Jalavahini' will see Sri Lanka's single largest
apparel exporter, whose principal community engagement is also focussed
on water, conducting a series of interactive training programmes across
the country for women with 'hands-on' roles at grassroots level in the
water sector, in collaboration with NetWwater (Network of Women Water
Professionals).
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At the inauguration of the Brandix
‘Jalavahini’ programme |
The first of these training programmes was ceremonially inaugurated
by Water Supply and Drainage Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena at the Water
Resources Board / Brandix Training Centre, Anuradhapura, for a
representative group of women from the North Central Province, a region
facing many serious water-related challenges.
The Training Centre was built and donated to the government of Sri
Lanka by Brandix and Gap Inc., USA in September 2007. Speaking at the
event, Minister Gunawardena said the government had given its blessings
to these community-based organisations. In the Anuradhapura District
alone, 19 percent of potable piped water was supplied by CBOs, the
minister said.
"This programme sponsored by Brandix is extremely important as it
will help these organisations to develop an effective action plan by
identifying future difficulties, challenges and trends," he said.
The Minister said the National Community Water Trust was set up
outside the purview of government departments and companies to give them
security, technology, strength and independence and that his ministry
would extend its cooperation to enable them to invest their earnings and
make profits. He said the government was appreciative of the support of
Brandix to this effort.
Anusha Alles, Head of CSR at the Brandix Group said: "There is an
increasing trend of women bearing the brunt of social and economic costs
related to water insecurity, especially in Sri Lanka's dry zone. Women
community leaders take on volunteer activities on top of their domestic
and professional responsibilities and have little opportunity to expand
their knowledge or develop essential skills. The Jalavahini initiative
proposes to fill this gap."
She said training will be provided at residential programmes in order
to make best use of time and travel costs.
These sessions will provide networking as well as skills building
opportunities.
"Anuradhapura was selected for the launch of this programme as it is
one of the epicenters of Chronic Kidney Disease, attributed by some
experts to poor water quality," Ms. Alles said.
"We hope this initiative will also provide an opportunity for the
organizers and institutional partners to understand the current issues
and challenges facing women in the water sector at community level."
Discussions on topics included 'management challenges in community
institutions,' 'climate change overview and its impacts for women in the
North Central Province,' 'livelihood opportunities for Community Based
Organisations,' 'financial education on women in community
organizations,' 'water security issues related to women and irrigation
in NCP,' 'water supply and water quality in NCP -implications for
women,' and 'gender issues at the community level - impact on the water
sector.'
According to NetWwater Chairperson Kusum Athukorala, Sri Lanka has
about 3,500 community based organizations (CBOs) in the water sector,
functioning at differing levels of success. These are now being
reorganized under the newly formed National Community Water Trust. Many
of these organizations have extensive female participation at membership
level, but lesser input at managerial level. One of the primary
objectives of NetWwater is to promote gender mainstreaming and creating
opportunities for women in decision making to become full partners in
sustainable water development, she said.
The outcomes of the first Brandix Jalavahini programme in
Anuradhapura would be used to fine-tune the model for replication in
other areas, including the north and east of Sri Lanka, where water
management for water supply and sanitation, ecosystem management,
irrigation and irrigated agriculture is critical in providing livelihood
security for communities, Ms. Athukorala said.
The Brandix Group's principal CSR efforts are driven by the central
corporate theme of 'Care for Water: Care for Women' and constitute a
long term commitment to increasing the availability of water and the
provision of safe drinking water to those most in need.
The Group's community outreach initiatives also include providing
wells and pipe-borne water to communities in and around its
manufacturing plants and the improvement of sanitation facilities in
needy areas.
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