SAFE DRINKING WATER

Duration              #  150 Seconds

Language            #  Hindi

Format                #  High Definition

Location              #  A village in Uttar Pradesh/Bihar/Rajasthan

TREATMENT

This spot is not flooded with messages. Only one message: Hand Pump is, often a means of safe drinking Water, has been identified and threaded into a story. Care has been taken to have a balance of message and story.

The treatment of this spot is fictional. Two characters, one lady photographer and a male driver are in a remote village, without potable water. The photographer is adamant not to drink anything, but safe water.

SCRIPT

A lady photographer, on an assignment, comes to a village. She is assisted by a driver cum guide, who is an egoist and often likes to speak in a broken English.

The jeep is a vintage. It is noisy and the entire body of the jeep tends to rattle.

The lady photographer shoots the landscape and village life.

While driving through the bumpy ride in the village, the flask containing drinking water falls. They are now without water.

They come across a stream, flowing across the road. The driver stops the vehicle. He gets out of the jeep with a ‘lota’ in his hand. The lady photographer prefers to sit in the jeep.

The driver drinks from the stream and fetches water in a vessel for the lady.

Driver : Have it Madamji?

The lady photographer does not reply.

Driver : Running water Madam… Always Clean !!!!

The lady photographer does not even look at him.

Driver : I have grown so big drinking this water Madamjee. I haven’t ever fallen sick.. Understand…..no understand I tell again

Photographer : Understanding….. Fully Understanding…

The Jeep is driven through the village. The driver stops by the side of a well.

Driver : Pease get down…This water from the well I know you can certainly drink….

Photographer : Is this drinking water ?

Driver : Yes Madam… Entire village drinks.. My great grand father used to drink… My grand father drank… My father drinks…..My family drinks….

Photographer : What about you ?

Driver : Even I drink….

Photographer : But you just told me that you drink running water from the stream.

Driver : It is the job of womenfolk to fetch water. Usually I don’t ask them whether it is from the stream or the well. By the way do you want to drink this water?

Photographer : No

Driver : Let us went …….

The Jeep passes through a lake. The engine is hot. The jeep stops all of a sudden.

The driver rushes to fetch water carrying a five litre mobile can. On his return, he tries to cool down the engine.

Photographer : Have you ever ever tested the water from this pond ?

Driver prefers not to respond.

Photographer : You must have certainly tested this water in your dreams …..

Driver : uncase you can to drink.. I will fetch it.

Photographer :  Why should you bother… This is the job of the womenfolk…

While the lady photographer deliveres her last sentence, she observes a group of women carrying firewood on their heads. They are at a distance. She takes a photograph. When they come close, she interrogates.

Photographer : Where do you fetch water for drinking purposes?

One lady : If you drive straight for 2 minutes, on the left side you will find a hand pump.

Photographer : Does it work?

Second Lady : Yes it is working since the inception…..

The ladies with the load of firewood leave the frame.

The lady photographer and the driver are seen walking towards the hand-pump. The driver develops cramps. On questioned by the lady photographer, the driver doesn’t reveal the fact.

An eight year girl is seen using the hand-pump, with ease.

The driver fills up his vessel and tells the lady photographer:

Please wait for one minute… I will come in two minutes….

The driver almost runs to a bush. The lady photographer takes a few seconds to understand. A sentence from an earlier scene is played back with reverberation.

Yes Madam… Entire village drinks.. My great grand father used to drink… My grand father drank… My father drinks…..My family drinks…