Under the Shujola project funded by the Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Foundation two water booths are installed at Chattogram Export Processing Zone area in Chattogram and Lakshmipura area of Gazipur for providing safe drinking water to garment workers.
Shujola is a project funded by the Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Foundation as part of the ‘WASH’ programs aiming to provide one million people with access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene in developing countries by 2025.
The project is being implemented by Swisscontact Bangladesh, with its primary aim being to ensure access to safe water in RMG workers’ residential communities. This is the pilot phase of the project aiming to set up five (05) water booths directly benefitting five entrepreneurs, through the seed fund provided by the project and establishment of the business.
On November 5, Thefirst water booth named “Reshmi Drinking Water” was launched in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone area in Chattogram, using the technology of FloWater Solutions Ltd. The water booth was inaugurated by the honourable administrator of Chattogram City Corporation, Mohammed KhorshedAlamSujan. Mohammad Atique. Director of BGMEA and Mirza Akbar Ali Chowdhury, Director of BKMEA were also present.
On 15 November 2020, “Shuddho Drinking Water” the second water booth was launched in the Lakshmipura area of Gazipur, using the technology of Drinkwell. The booth was jointly inaugurated by Jabed Ali, the councilor of Ward No. 27 of Gazipur City Corporation (GCC), Mustafizur Rahman, Secretary of GCC and Mr. Hanifur Rahman Lotus, Chairman of BGMEA Health Centre. Shuddho Drinking Water’s booth has the facility of an ATM card, enabling local RMG workers and their community members to collect water from the booth and recharge the card when necessary.
Present at both events were members from JTI Bangladesh, on behalf of the project’s donors, the JTI Foundation and representatives from Swisscontact Bangladesh.
Both the Shuddho Drinking Water and Reshmi Drinking Water booths can produce around 1,000 litres of safe drinking water per hour. Therefore, each booth can produce 8,000 litres of water daily considering an eight (08) hour working day.
Taking data from Shujola’s baseline study,it is estimated that the daily water requirement of an RMG worker is two (2) litres. Therefore, each water booth can serve around 4,000 RMG workers or customers each on a regular working day.
With the successful launching of two water booths, the project aims to launch more water booths before finishing its pilot phase.