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WEEK 1 – IN CLASSROOM ACTIVITY “BE WATER WISE” 
 
Source - https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-suffering-worst-water-crisis-in-history-says-niti-aayog-report-118061401212_1.html 
CONTENTS 
How to start? ............................................................................................................................................ 2 
DAAC President as facilitator ............................................................................................................. 2 
Introduction – ........................................................................................................................................... 2 
Estimated Time – 45-60 Minutes ............................................................................................................ 2 
Steps for the activity - ............................................................................................................................. 3 
Conclusions – .......................................................................................................................................... 3 
handout 1.................................................................................................................................................. 4 
Reflections - Every drop counts ............................................................................................................ 6 
Closure and pre-planning ....................................................................................................................... 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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TYPE OF ACTIVITY - GROUP ACTIVITY

HOW TO START?

DAAC PRESIDENT AS FACILITATOR

- Prepare the agenda for the month, discuss all that you are planning to do this month and how the

other members will be involved in different activities

- Explain the activity in brief, describe the critical condition of the water crisis in India and the world

with the help of given introduction.

INTRODUCTION –

Globally, 844 million people lack access to clean

water. Without clean, easily accessible water,

families and communities are locked in poverty

for generations. Children drop out of school, and

parents struggle to make a living.

Women and children are worst affected — chil-

dren because they are more vulnerable to water-

borne diseases, and women and girls because

they often bear the burden of carrying water for

their families for an estimated 200 million hours

each day.

Access to clean water changes everything; it’s a

stepping-stone to development. When people

gain access to clean water, they are better able

to practice good hygiene and sanitation. Chil-

dren enjoy good health and are more likely to at-

tend school.

Indian Scenario

India is facing one of its major and most serious wa-

ter crises.

After two consecutive years of weak monsoons, 330

million people, a quarter of the country’s population,

are affected by severe droughts. With nearly 50 per-

cent of India grappling with drought-like conditions,

the situation has been particularly grim this year in

western and southern states that received below av-

erage rainfall.

According to the Composite Water Management

Index (CWMI) Report released by the Niti Aayog

in 2018, 21 major cities (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chen-

nai, Hyderabad, and others) are racing to reach

zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting ac-

cess of water for 100 million people.

However, 12 percent of India’s population is al-

ready living the 'Day Zero' scenario, thanks to ex-

cessive groundwater pumping, an inefficient and

wasteful water management system, and years

of deficient rains.

ESTIMATED TIME – 45-60 MINUTES

Material required – Chart Paper, Colour Pens

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STEPS FOR THE ACTIVITY -

1. Divide the class into 4 groups and distribute the Handout 1.

2. Ask them to just read the handout for 5 -10 minutes.

3. Each group needs to come up with the formula based on their understanding and prepare a

placard like –

Lack of Water = Lack of Education

Lack of Water = Lack of Equality

Lack of Water = Hunger

Lack of Water = Lack of Health

4. Ask each group to talk about their Handout 1 for 2 minutes with showing their placards

a. Which problem is mentioned in their handout?

b. How is the problem linked with the water crisis?

c. Who all are getting affected by the problems?

CONCLUSIONS –

1. After each group talks about the problem and scarcity effects in different sectors, sum up the

discussion by the following questions –

a. How is water scarcity a serious problem in the global scenario?

b. How clean and safe drinking water is important for us?

c. What will happen in the coming years if we citizens continuously waste water?

2. Distribute the reflection sheets to each group and give them 5-10 minutes to discuss and record

their answers.

3. Each group will present their reflections sheet after the activity.

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HANDOUT 1

Group 1

Education is critical for breaking the cycle of poverty, and yet over half of the world's schools

lack access to safe water and sanitation facilities.

Lack of clean water has serious effects on students' academic performance and attendance

rates. The lack of safe water can cause even the best students to lose momentum as they

deal with stomach pains and diarrhoea, disease and hunger.

Students miss class to go fetch water, or to care for sick parents or siblings. In many places

HIV/AIDS has already caused a large percentage of children to become orphans, requiring

students to drop out and find work to provide food and care for younger siblings. If teachers

are sick, classes get cancelled for all students.

Schools cannot run programs if they cannot provide water to students, faculty, and their

families.

Group 2

For girls, water scarcity is especially troublesome. If schools do not have proper toilets, girls

drop out once they reach puberty. Further, it is typically the responsibility of the women to fetch

water, thus limiting their access to both education and business opportunities. Think about it:

Everyday women and young girls carry more than 40 liters of dirty water from sources over 4

miles away from their homes. This leaves little time for education which is critical to changing

the long-term prospects of developing nations.

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Group 3

It takes huge quantities of water to grow food. Just think, globally, we use 70% of our water

sources for agriculture and irrigation and only 10% on domestic uses.

Water is fundamental to relieving hunger in the developing world. 84% of people who don't have

access to improved water, also live in rural areas, where they live principally through subsist-

ence agriculture. Sometimes, areas that experience shortage of water suffer because of poor

water management, but more often, it is a relatively simple economic issue.

Group 4

Did you know that half of the world's hospital beds are filled with people suffering from a water-

related disease? In developing countries, about 80% of illnesses are linked to poor water and

sanitation conditions. 1 out of every 5 deaths under the age of 5 worldwide is due to a water-

related disease. Clean and safe water is essential for healthy living.

Tiny worms and bacteria live in water naturally. Most of the bacteria are harmless. But some of

them can cause devastating disease in humans. And since they can't be seen, they can't be

avoided.

Every glass of dirty water is a potential killer.

Most of these waterborne diseases aren't found in developed countries because of the sophisti-

cated water systems that filter and chlorinate water to eliminate all disease-carrying organisms.

But typhoid fever, cholera, and many other diseases still run rampant in the developing parts of

the world.

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REFLECTIONS - EVERY DROP COUNTS

Group activity

Much of the rain that falls runs off the ground, into rivers and back into the sea. Some of it evaporates, and

some is simply wasted. For example, using too much water to wash a few plates and cups, or leaving a tap

running while brushing our teeth.

In your groups, discuss what the ordinary citizens can do every day to use water wisely and keep it clean.

Write down the group’s ideas and share them with the other groups.

____________________________________________________________________________________

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CLOSURE AND PRE-PLANNING

President (DAAC) -Read and understand the next week’s activity. Take prior permissions and ap-

provals for the activity “Energy Audit.”

Vice – President (DAAC) -Discuss next week’s plan and be prepared with the material required for

the activity.

Secretary (DAAC) - Record the Minutes of meeting and take the signature of all members present

Treasurer or Any Member (DAAC) - Prepare agenda and circulate to DAAC members and DA

teacher