Taranagar from 2000 to 2012: Changes in Arsenic-Related Situation

Abstract

Two follow-up surveys have been carried out in Taranagar to know about the arsenic-related developments in the village. Following the survey in 2000, a social survey was carried out in 2005 to observe the situation in this village after 5 years. Again another follow-up survey in the village was undertaken in 2011–2012. In this chapter changes in the arsenic-related scenario from 2000 to 2011 have been depicted. It has been observed that in 2005 arsenic-related situation had worsened in Taranagar as compared to 2000. Five people had died of arsenicosis. This situation raised awareness level of the people to some extent – yet, only half of the residents were drinking water from alternative water sources, such as dug wells and ring wells. In 2012 the percentage of households with arsenicosis patients reduced, meaning that awareness of arsenic had increased significantly and some interventions in combating the arsenic-related situation had taken place. However, only about half of the respondents interviewed in 2012 were sure that they were drinking from safe sources.