It is 1720hrs on 25th March 2012
As we approach the hot summer month of April in India and thirst becomes a physiological manifestation of human existence that inflicts itself upon millions and millions of this country’s denizens, the issue of scarcity of good quality of potable water once again taunts us for our singular lack of an original and an innovative approach.
Yes, I do acknowledge that there are a number of initiatives, both at the governmental as well as non-governmental levels that attempt to manage the issue of affordable and accessible water supply, but I am afraid most of these lack any originality or innovativeness; and all of them assume (and perhaps rightly so!) water as an economical good that needs to be centrally produced, distributed through agents, and sold wherever consumers can be induced to purchase.
But why should this be the only approach? Is there some way by which we can tag on the supply, distribution and consumption of water to other basic economic goods, whereby local ecosystems evolve and citizens get incentivised to adopt these ecosystems (for instance can we have a version of buy 1 get 1 free? Or the concept of super-saver packs? Or a system of bankable water-credits that can be swapped by citizens at locally-accessible water-exchanges?)
I am convinced that this is an area that cries for innovation and lateral-thinking by government departments, water-supply companies and NGOs.....and I earnestly hope that a game-changing innovation happens and that too sooner than later!
Hope you are having a great weekend.
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