Maanya Pai

Middle School Finalist, Grade 7
Bothell, WA

What truly lies in the waters: India’s silent crisis with fighting cholera

On September 12th, 1978, in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, the Declaration of Alma-Ata was signed. The Declaration was a global call to countries to protect and promote healthcare for everyone (“Declaration of Alma-Ata”, 2026). Out of many countries that adopted this new goal, India was one that promised ‘healthcare for all’. But this promise is shattering. 

Contamination of water with chemicals and human waste has spread a deadly killer called cholera. In nine years, 565 outbreaks of cholera were reported in India, leading to over  45,000 individual cases and 263 lives taken (“Cholera Outbreaks in India, 2011–2020: A  Systematic Review”, 2022). But this issue isn’t just weirdly coincidental, this is an important crisis that needs to be addressed right now. 

A key player in cholera outbreaks is water contamination. Even with being a big country, around 70% of Indian surface water is undrinkable due to untreated sewage leaks and agricultural runoff(“Water Pollution in India”, 2026). As BharatNama says, over 72% of untreated sewage is released into bodies of water. But the worst part is that most Indian treatment plants don’t function completely, because of poor management and funding. Wikipedia states that the Ganges River provides water to around 40% of the Indian population, yet is extremely polluted, and as Nature says, the Ganges Delta is considered to be the origin of cholera, with Indian industries just feeding the fire. This shows us how  India is withering from water contamination. 

Water pollution isn’t the only factor in spreading cholera, because food contamination has a role in it too. PubMed states the most common source of spread through food is by eating contaminated seafood, mainly shellfish and crustaceans that live in polluted water or were contaminated while preparation. There are estimated to be 4  species of crustaceans and 15 mollusk species in the heavily polluted Ganges River, which provides food for many unknowing Indians (“Fauna”, 2020). PubMed states cholera can also spread through consumption with things that are not food, like washing utensils, dishes, or other supplies with tainted water, or by cooking/crafting food with tainted water supplies.  In conclusion, cholera doesn’t only spread through water, food also affects it.

We know the cause for cholera spread, but the reason for the factors that are there in the first place needs to be discussed, and that cause is the lack of resources. As Water.org states, 1.4  billion individuals live in India, while 342 million don’t have access to drinking water, which results in them being forced to drink contaminated water, and 539 million people don’t have access to a safe toilet, resulting in them having to defecate in water sources, contaminating the water that many drink. This causes the spread of cholera, which might seem like the Indians fault, but it’s actually because the Indian government isn’t helping through cleaning and giving necessities, as they promised they would. 

In conclusion, cholera is threatening lives in India through pollution and lack of resources, but the Indian government isn’t keeping its promises on maintaining a healthy country.  But if India can’t do it, we people from the US can attempt to help. So how can you help? One way you can help is by donating to Water.org. Water.org is a nonprofit organization that helps families gain sanitation and clean water all over the world. They have a whole branch dedicated to India, and every dollar you donate supports a fund of $21, which will go on to save lives globally and have a chance to reach India. Go support our country and help India defeat cholera right now!