One of the water sources that became the destination for women in Banjar Taksu, Kedisan Village, Kintamani District, Bangli Regency was to meet their needs for clean water.
For dozens of years, women in Bangli have relied on rainwater
A total of 16 women in Banjar Taksu, Kedisan Village, Kintamani District, Bangli Regency admit that they have relied on rainwater to meet their water needs for their survival for many years. This was conveyed by the Main Director of the Bali Women Crisis Center Legal Aid Institute (LBH BWCC), Ni Nengah Budawati, in a Forum Group Discussion (FGD) meeting held at the Geopark Museum on Monday (18/7/2023).
The meeting revealed the complaints of residents who have not had access to water for decades to decades. Also the role of women in the household who must be involved in providing water to meet their main needs. Budawati highlighted that this condition has the potential for violence against these women. What potential violence can they experience?
1. Affected communities survive from rainwater
One of the water sources that became the destination for women in Banjar Taksu, Kedisan Village, Kintamani District, Bangli Regency was to meet their needs for clean water.
Banjar Taksu women's representative, Wayan Rasmini (35) revealed that she has experienced water difficulties for 13 years. And only rely on rainwater. If the rainwater it holds runs out, then it will walk far enough to find a water source. In the area where he lives, he admits that there is a source of clean water, but the flow is constrained.
“Access is very difficult, steep, and far from our house,” he said.
Warga di lokasi tersebut akan membeli air sebagai pilihan terakhir jika ridak ada stok air hujan, dan kesulitan mencari sumber air. Dengan keterbatasan tersebut mereka harus bisa mengirit air terutama untuk kebutuhan sehari-hari. Dan juga berdampak kepada ekonomi.
Representative of Subak Taksu Village, Ketut Sureta, said he hopes that clean water in Subak Taksu can be distributed to residents' areas because so far they have not used clean water.
“In Subak Taksu there is a source of water that can be pulled using a machine or something that can reach residents' homes,” he said.
2. Affected women have the potential to experience violence to the risk of stunting
Travel to the location of the water source in Banjar Taksu, Kedisan Village, Kintamani District, Bangli Regency
Ni Nengah Budawati said that women in Banjar Taksu (Konyel) use rainwater that is collected using tarpaulins for their survival. If the stock of rainwater runs out, they will look for the nearest spring. Under these conditions, these affected women have the potential to experience violence and the risk of stunting children.
“This forest in Bangli is sustainable and also the forerunner of the waters that are spread throughout Bali. So why then does Bangli not benefit from it? so we have a lot of understanding and contemplation that we have to study,” he explained.
Budawati explained that the results of this research and FGD would be brought up at an international meeting. The research was conducted from 28 June to 3 July 2023 in the context of compiling a national monitoring report on sustainable development goals or SDGs, and development justice 2022-2023. This program is organized by the Asia Pacific Forum, Law and Development (APWLD).
3. Hundreds of water sources in Bangli have not been utilized optimally
Travel to the location of the water source in Banjar Taksu, Kedisan Village, Kintamani District, Bangli Regency
The Deputy Regent of Bangli, I Wayan Diar, who was present at the time, said that Bangli Regency has around 415 surface water points. However, the number of clean water sources has not been utilized optimally by the local community due to various difficulties and challenges. His party also acknowledged the funding constraints for optimizing this potential, because this burden could not be borne by the Bangli Regency Government alone.
"There are many sources of clean water," he said
Responding to this, he stated that whatever the results of this FGD activity, it can be followed up accordingly.
Forum Group Discussion (FGD) to be held at the Geopark Museum on Monday (18/7/2023)
Head of SPI PDAM Bangli, Wayan Jayanegara said that currently, PDAM Bangli has served 17 villages in Kintamani District by utilizing water sources in Catur Village. Until now, he admits that the distribution of clean water to Banjar Taksu, Kedisan Village, which is behind the hill, does not yet exist. Meanwhile, the PDAM tariff has been regulated by the Regional Government, both the lower and upper limits. Including subsidized rates. So regarding the complaints of several women, his party has not been able to provide a solution.