Traditional Water Fetching Practices, Water Usage, and Scarcity

Abstract

From per anthropological point of view, water is not only the necessity of life but it shapes the structure of societies in certain ways and produces particular values. The general notion of the discussion is the strength of this influencing resource not just for living and production but equally important for shaping the specific social values and norms. Water is a balancing resource between different social classes. By remaining a crucial molten resource, this is a need of social life and is a power-exercising element (Hastrup , 2013). This study is performed to analyze traditional water fetching practices, usage of water, and scarcity in village Kumar Bandi Muzaffarabad. Overall, 93 respondents of the local community of Kumar Bandi comprising of 20 males, 55 females, 11 girls, and 7 boys were approached. Data has been collected through an interview guide by the method of convenient and purposive sampling. A descriptive model of data collection has been used for acquiring the information. Functionalism and structural functionalism were the basis of the theoretical framework. The study explored aspects leading to involvement in water scarcity and water fetching. Several research questions that remained very helpful in achieving the research purpose were used. The impacts of water scarcity and how it is influencing the cultural and social norms of the locals. The researcher explores how the people are overcoming the scarcity issues and what mechanism they are using for storing the water. The study provides an idea about overcoming the issue of water scarcity i.e., by fetching water, factors, and perceptions linked with fetching water from the available resources. It also magnifies the time spent during a day on arranging water for different household purposes and managing other household activities along with this phenomenon. The study draws important attention to the most important factor which is the abnormal impacts of water fetching on different aspects of water fetching an individual’s life and the most important of which is health. The issue of water scarcity has caused damages to religious and traditional local practices besides the danger of the water utilized is recommended for use or not. The researcher has some major findings after carrying out the study in village Kumar Bandi on the issue of water scarcity and water fetching. Women’s health and development, children’s education and care, economic instability, and adverse effects on the social, religious, and cultural aspects of natives are the results of water scarcity and fetching practices.