Project Description:

The overall objective of the study was to assess the present situation and establish benchmarks of the present status of WASH situation in terms of access of the tea‐garden workers and their family members to safe water, safe sanitation and in terms of hygiene practice by them in the selected tea gardens in Sylhet. Qualitative tools such as FGD, KII, IDI, Group Discussion and KAP study tools were used for primary data collection in this evaluation study. Besides, extensive secondary research was also conducted to better understand the countrywide and project specific WASH situation.  This study revealed that almost 100 percent of tea gardens used tube well water instead of canal or lake water. There were enough tube wells in terms of population. Besides, duty bearers like LGI and garden authority had also become more responsive. One of the UPs excavated a canal in a tea garden in order to ensure regular water flow. The status of sanitation improved subsequently with water facilities. IDEA was able to make the gardeners aware that use of sanitary latrine is a key to healthy life. More than 90 percent of people used a sanitary latrine. Also, people were more aware about their hygiene. Almost all people were found using footwear. For household waste, people stopped throwing it here and there and used hole beside their house. Adolescent girls became aware about menstrual hygiene management. After compiling all the study findings, the DM WATCH team recommended that the project pay more attention to the vulnerable population (old, disable, children) of the tea gardens, also towards school based WASH awareness programs.