World Water Day 2026: Women at the centre of water crisis

Chaitali Joshi

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Marking World Water Day on March 22, the 2026 theme “Water and Gender” reflects a long-standing reality in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a city that has faced persistent and severe water scarcity for years. Irregular supply, dependence on tankers, and depleting sources have made water management a daily challenge, one that largely falls on women.

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Women managing daily water struggles

Across several parts of the city, women spend hours queuing for water, storing it carefully, and managing limited resources for their families. Despite their crucial role, awareness and collective action remain inadequate.

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Awareness and participation is the key

“Women are closely associated with water-related work and therefore have a deeper understanding of its value. Even though they use less water for themselves, they are more conscious about conservation. Awareness is necessary people know about the water crisis but often fail to act. Public participation is very important in water and sanitation management, as women face the maximum impact. While they save water, they still struggle with sanitation issues. Change begins with small steps, but as results are not immediately visible, negligence tends to grow,”

- Dr Kailash Aher, senior geologist and joint secretary, geoforum.

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Ground realities from waterbodies

“While working around waterbodies in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, we see women carrying the burden of mismanaged water resources every day. From standing in long queues for water to washing clothes in polluted stretches, they constantly adapt to shortages. They also take care of family members affected by unsafe water. Yet, when it comes to planning and managing water systems, their voices are missing. This gap between responsibility and representation defines the water–gender challenge. On March 28, citizens will gather at Kamal Talao to celebrate women who are actively contributing to improving the city.”

- Gauri Mirashi,

Need for inclusive water governance

As the city observes World Water Day, experts stress that addressing scarcity and ensuring sustainable management will require stronger public participation and greater inclusion of women in water governance.