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Workshop 1 The Political
Economy of Defecation: Tales of water and excreta. Date: 21 August, 2005 On the one hand, in many cities of the South, the demand and scarcity of water is increasing. On the other hand, with increased water consumption and lack of waste treatment facilities, the same cities discharge more and more untreated wastewater into the environment, leading to pollution and stress on downstream users. What will be the paradigm of water and waste management in cities of the industrialising South? Can they afford to adopt the capital and material intensive water- based sewage approach. Or will they need to rethink the water and waste management paradigm? Studies done by the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment for individual cities in India – Delhi, Chennai and others – suggest the need of new and innovative solutions to these old problems. The approach leads us diverse solutions but all built on the eco-system principle of "closed loop" where on one hand rainwater harvesting can augment water resources by recharging aquifers, on the other treated and recycled waste water can also be used to augment groundwater aquifers. There are also other encouraging experiences in the field of sanitation where systems based on eco-system principles with no or low water use and recycling of nutrients in human excreta, e.g. ecological sanitation, enhance environmental, social and economic sustainability and contribute to improved health and increased food security. Another area that CSE has focused on is the release of untreated sewage water and sludge into rivers and lakes with serious consequences for poor people's health as well as for the environment. The seminar will discuss the experiences of water and excreta management in cities and the emerging imperative for new eco-system based approaches in the field of water and sanitation and their wider application in the context of poverty eradication and of sustainable development.
Workshop 2 The rainwater advantage: policy and practice in Africa
and India Water scarcity is a reality in every human habitation today. Everyone is trying to deal with it--using different techniques, different approaches and strategies. Rainwater harvesting, as a tool to manage water sustainably, has a universal relevance. And governments, civil societies across the world are growing increasingly aware of its significance. Many are practicing it proactively--again adapting it to suit their own specific needs and environment. A global platform to share experiences, to learn from each other’s mistakes, and pick up innovative tips—is an absolute necessity today. This workshop seeks to do just that. It highlights the partnership between Centre for Science and Environment and RELMA in ICRAF, two NGOs working in two different continents, Asia and Africa. During the past two years they have constantly interacted with each other, to learn how rwh is being implemented, what have been the legal safeguards, the pitfalls and the success stories. Groups of professionals, policy makers and common citizens from various African nations have visited India to meet the practitioners in the grassroots level. Similarly, Indian researchers and experts have travelled in Africa to witness the initiatives being undertaken by the African people. This workshop showcases these events and experiences. It also presents a panel of veteran politicians and policy makers from India and Africa, who have done pioneering work in spreading the message of RWH. They will discuss the learnings from this partnership and future options for a more effective water management strategy.
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