Sariapukur village is in Uttar Dariyapur, and comes under Kaliachak police station of Malda district, West Bengal. Villagers drank water from the pipeline, and about 100 people are covered in sores because of arsenic contamination. These people have been suffering for 6-7 months now, because of the negligence of their panchayat.
-What is the biggest problem in your village?
-Water is a big problem in our village. We have to bring water from very far away. We have to go through water, mud, everything, to just bring water. The entire village is suffering, after drinking water from here. Everyone has sores, which are very painful.
-How long has this problem been together?
-For 5-6 months; actually, it's been on longer. It wasn't so bad earlier. A few people were affected. But in last 5-6 months, it's just been getting worse.
-How many people are suffering from this problem?
-At least 100 people.
In order to fill drinking water, the villagers are compelled to stand in dirty, knee-deep water. After drinking this water, they have developed sores on their body. When I spoke to the panchayat president about this, she claimed she didn't know anything about it. However, she said that now that she is aware of the issue, she would make arrangements to tackle it.
I request all the viewers to please call Panchayat President on +91-7602796166 and urge her to ensure free and arsenic-free water.
I am Soriya Banu reporting from Maiga, West Bengal for IndiaUnheard.
A Call for Research on AI’s Role in Amplifying the Insights of the Systemically Unheard
The article argues that systematically ignoring and silencing the voices of the poor and marginalized worldwide does not serve society or democracy well and must be countered. While new technologies such as AI could provide an opportunity for change, we contend that these technologies need to account more effectively for...
“Video Volunteers gave me a platform to go the extra mile for people”
Avijit Adhikary is a journalist with nearly 8000 days of field experience till date. In the past two decades, he has witnessed the ebb and flow of the media industry in India, with ripples felt in his region too. This includes the rise of digital media, the decline of print...