Mumbai Water Connections Rise 45% With Community Help
A Georgia Tech study found that combining administrative assistance and community advocacy increased official water connections in Mumbai's informal settlements by 45% over five years, tracking nearly 7,000 households
A recent study by Georgia Tech has found that combining administrative assistance and community advocacy can significantly help Mumbai communities secure government-provided water connections. The research, which tracked nearly 7,000 households across 154 Mumbai settlements over five years, found a 45% increase in official connections.
The study aimed to determine which strategies most effectively helped residents secure water connections. Hundreds of informal settlements in Mumbai, housing millions of residents, face barriers to securing these connections. The municipal corporation in Mumbai only accepts online applications for water connections, which require documentation including tenant or land titles, plumbers' approvals, and other proof-of-eligibility deeds.
The researchers found that neither administrative assistance nor community advocacy alone was enough to overcome the obstacles. However, when combined, these two bottom-up approaches produced dramatic results. Anjali Thomas, an associate professor at Georgia Tech and co-lead author of the study, noted that this approach was unique to their study.
The study's findings were published in the American Journal of Political Science by Anjali Thomas and Nikhar Gaikwad, an assistant professor at Columbia University. The researchers examined why so few residents applied for water connections and found that many were unaware of recent policy changes that made them eligible.
## Why it matters Access to clean drinking water is a basic human need, yet many residents in Mumbai struggle to obtain it. The study's findings have significant implications for the millions of residents living in informal settlements in Mumbai. By combining administrative assistance and community advocacy, residents can increase their chances of securing government-provided water connections. This, in turn, can have a positive impact on their health, well-being, and quality of life.
The study's results also highlight the importance of community organizing and advocacy in helping residents navigate the application process and exert their voice. As the world's largest and most populous cities continue to grow, finding effective solutions to provide essential services like clean drinking water will become increasingly important. The Georgia Tech study provides valuable insights into the strategies that can help achieve this goal.
