Water in Tajikistan is the exclusive property of the state. If we speak not in legal language, then water belongs to each of us – citizens of Tajikistan
and is free, everyone has the right to use water from rivers, lakes, streams, lakes for drinking free of charge within the framework of the law. However, if the water at home comes from a tap, or comes from a well nearby, or from a tap on the street, then this means that someone has spent resources, labor and finances to make it appear there. And now you have to pay for someone’s labor and resources. And accordingly, new relations arise between the one who consumes this water and the one who supplies it.
To regulate these relations, through the methods of transparency and accountability in the work of the drinking water supply provider and with the aim of educating and raising the level of knowledge of drinking water consumers, in six pilot districts of the project – Muminabad – Dushanbe and Dehlolo villages, Kulyab – Ziraki and Tanel villages, Rudakij Choryakkoron and Tezgari were organized by the Union of Consumers of Tajikistan in October 2019 for active women and men of makhallas of these districts were organized and conducted one-day trainings on the topic: “Drinking water supply. Rights and obligations”. In each district, 20-25 participants took part in the training.
During the seminar, the method of interactive teaching was used, when the participants had the opportunity to ask questions of interest to them, make clarifications and suggestions. The participants had the opportunity to get acquainted with the topics of the training through discussion, individual assignments, and work with presentations.
During the discussion of the problems in the field of drinking water supply faced by consumers, questions of a different nature were raised – these are payment for drinking water, water supply mode, power outages, unpleasant taste of water, operation of a water meter, etc. To solve the discussion of these problems, the participants were divided into three groups. After the participants’ performances, the trainer suggested the groups how to solve these problems more correctly and effectively together with the drinking water suppliers.
After the discussion, the trainer came to the following conclusion: “… our rights are the limits of our capabilities, and duty is the border of our responsibility” and then the trainer read out the rights and obligations of the parties, in accordance with the norms of the legislation of the sphere. After thoroughly familiarizing themselves with the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On Protection of Consumer Rights”, the participants prepared their presentations and discussed real situations that they encountered, but were not considered from the point of view of the law. Further, the participants were explained how consumers can independently defend their rights by filing claims. After which they wrote, according to the model, the claims and discussed them among themselves.