Small sips for a larger cause

With summer at its peak, spare a thought for Mumbai's strays, who have to rough it out for their daily water intake. The Water Bowl Project initiated last year by In Defence of Animals (IDA) distributes free cement water bowls to animal lovers, who ensure that strays don't go thirsty

Fizzah Shah, animal rights activist and president, In Defence of Animals (IDA), is happy that the Water Bowl Project is in the news again.

Inspired by their venture, the Chennai chapter hasu00a0 taken off, supported by animal welfare charity organisation Blue Cross of India. "It was Sarita Raturi's idea. She felt stray animals were deprived of water in summer," Shah says referring to the member of IDA's managing committee.

Raturi sponsored and launched the programme in Mumbai in the summer of 2010. Nearly 200 cement bowls were distributed to animal lovers, who placed them at different spots in the city.

Today, over 500 bowls are providing thirsty strays a sip. "Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru and now Chennai have replicated the model. Individuals, more than organisations, make all the difference," says Shah.

This year, the Water Bowl Project began distribution of bowls in January. Project coordinator Sharmee Bhatt says we tend to forget that except for the monsoon, stray animals have to struggle to find water to drink.

"Our volunteers have been placing bowls with the support and co-operation of shopkeepers, security guards of buildings, garage owners, hotel owners, dhaba walas, and people living from MHADA homes to row-houses. They not only take responsibility of filling these up with water but also clean the bowls daily."

Interestingly, the initiative has caught on mainly through a word-of-mouth campaign.

"Our youngest volunteer was a seven year-old; we've also had a bunch of 14 year-olds who approached us for bowls," she adds.

Bhatt points out that they learnt several lessons from last year's drive. "Bowls were often stolen or used as buckets. We have now altered the size of each bowl to hold between 3.5 to 4 litres of water. They are made from a mix of cement and mud, and sourced from a potter in Borivli."

These containers have no resale value for scrap-dealers, so chances of misuse are minimal. The response from areas like Charkop, Thakur Complex, Borivli and Malad has been terrific, say the organisers. Next Bhat wants animal lovers from Khar, Parel and Ghatkopar to come forward. "We need wider representation."

Be a part of the Water Bowl project
Email Sarita Raturi at saritaraturi@hotmail.com with your name, address and mobile number. She will revert with information about where you can collect your bowls from. Distribution centres are spread across Kandivli, Dadar and Deonar.