Safe drinking water is a scarce resource in Bangladesh. It is almost implausible to visualise free drinking water source, even sometimes at our own homes. It can be said that safe drinking water can be afforded by people mostly of the higher socio-economic class, whereas people of lower income communities remain at risk of drinking water from contaminated sources.
In 2015, Footsteps Foundation launched a project called 'Project Trishna', which redistributed water sources from the higher socioeconomic households by setting up devices right outside their offices or building spaces for public utility. The project has been successful in providing access to over six million liters of clean drinking water till now.
New module of project Trishna
Recently, Footsteps Foundation has implemented a new module of Project Trishna. It targets communities, especially low income or charity schools, orphanages, medical centres etc. to create water accessibility. Private corporations and investors are encouraged to invest in water systems in such areas which can have higher level of impact in improving community livelihood. The module is especially focused towards ensuring water access for school going children. Kids struck down by water based diseases such as diarrhea and cholera are unable to go to school which restricts them from getting the necessary education to overcome the poverty barrier. By setting up these water systems, Footsteps and its project partners are making sure kids are able to receive their education by reducing the risk of exposure to water based diseases.
As of now, the new module of Project Trishna has created access for seven low income community schools, orphanages, charity institutions such as Gojomohol Tannery Government Primary School, Autism Medha Bikash Kendra, Amader Pathshala, etc via a partnership with Buro Bangladesh. In the two months since the launch of the module, student attendance has increased by thirty-six per cent.
"Project Trishna, through its Corporate Social Responsibility platform, plans to set up such water systems in several water distressed communities in Bangladesh, and we welcome private corporations and individuals to join this initiative," says Shah Rafayat Chowdhury, co-founder and president of Footsteps Foundation. With the initial stages of the new module showing positive changes in terms of water and education accessibility, Project Trishna can be the ideal platform for private entities to achieve their CSR needs by addressing one of the most crucial social challenges our society faces today.
The writer is a student at London College of Legal Studies. She can be reached at
