Water Struggle

Recent years have witnessed a steady deterioration in the availability of fresh water in terms of their quantity and/or quality. The scarcity of fresh water has become the single most difficult obstacle for the support and maintenance of life, especially the poor. It has even become a cause of conflict between peoples, governments and even nations. With increased disputes over the ownership and custody of water and water sources at the local, inter-state, national and international levels, the conflict over water assumes greater significance. "Water Struggle’ is the result of the Interdisciplinary Seminar held at Bishop’s College, Kolkata, on 20th and 21st November, 2003 to consider issues relating to the significance of the struggle for water. It ponders over and reflects upon the ways in which the conflict is manifested and explores some possible means of addressing them, using stories from certain religious texts. It also draws some theological, ethical and missiological implications for our engagement.