The National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) has formally taken cognisance of a complaint alleging prolonged denial of safe drinking water and basic services in Kelhariya village, located in Naugarh block of Chandauli district, Uttar Pradesh.
In an official communication dated 28 January 2026, the NHRC directed the District Magistrate of Chandauli to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within four weeks, following allegations that residents have endured acute water scarcity for decades, alongside the absence of roads, schools, healthcare, and government services.
A Village Without Water
Kelhariya village depends on a seasonal natural stream locally known as a chuaad—a narrow water passage that dries up during summer months. According to residents and field documentation, the village has:
No functional piped water supply
Two hand pumps that are non-operational
Failed borewell attempts
Irregular and insufficient water tanker services
Despite repeated announcements under India’s flagship Har Ghar Jal scheme, villagers report no consistent water supply for at least three years.
Women and Children Bear the Cost
The burden of water collection falls disproportionately on women and children, who make multiple daily trips—often standing in long queues—to fetch water from distant sources.
Local accounts describe:
Children missing school due to water collection duties
High incidence of dehydration and water-related illnesses
Physical exhaustion and health risks for women
Public health workers have not conducted routine visits to the village, and residents must travel long distances for even basic medical care.
Forced Migration as a Survival Strategy
During peak water scarcity, entire families reportedly migrate seasonally toward areas near the Musakhand Dam or the Karmanasa River, erecting temporary shelters until the monsoon replenishes the chuaad.
This seasonal displacement disrupts:
Education
Livelihoods
Social cohesion
Experts note that such migration is increasingly recognised as a consequence of environmental and governance failure, rather than voluntary mobility.
Independent Media Documentation
The crisis in Kelhariya has been independently documented by Frontline, a national investigative magazine, which detailed how structural neglect, ecological vulnerability, and policy failure intersect in the region.
The report corroborates community testimonies and highlights the absence of sustainable water planning despite official schemes.
The Human Rights Complaint
The formal complaint submitted to the NHRC argues that the denial of safe drinking water constitutes a violation of the right to life and dignity, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and recognised under international human rights standards.
It calls for:
An urgent on-site investigation by NHRC
Immediate steps to establish a sustainable water supply system
Interim relief through regular tanker services
Accountability of officials responsible for non-implementation
Emergency measures prioritising women, children, and marginalised groups
NHRC Response: Accountability Initiated
In its official order (Case No. 10648/24/19/2025), the NHRC stated:
“The Commission has received a complaint… alleging that the residents of Kelhariya village of Chandauli district, Uttar Pradesh, have been facing acute water shortage since several years… The complainant has requested the Commission to intervene into the matter.”
The Commission subsequently instructed the District Magistrate, Chandauli, to submit a report within four weeks via the HRCNet portal, marking a formal step toward administrative accountability.
Why This Case Matters Beyond One Village
Right to Water as a Global Standard
In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly recognised access to safe drinking water as a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other rights.
Implementation Gap
Kelhariya’s situation illustrates a broader pattern in which policy announcements fail to translate into last-mile delivery, particularly in remote and marginalised regions.
Structural Inequality
The crisis highlights how environmental vulnerability, poverty, and governance failures combine to produce chronic rights deprivation, often invisible until escalated to oversight bodies.
What Comes Next
The NHRC’s directive now places responsibility squarely on district authorities. Human rights observers note that the effectiveness of the intervention will depend on the transparency and seriousness of the Action Taken Report—and whether it leads to sustained infrastructure, not temporary relief.
For the residents of Kelhariya, access to water is not a development metric. It is a matter of survival, dignity, and justice.
Key Documents & Links
NHRC Official Website: https://www.nhrc.nic.in
- Frontline Investigation:https://frontline.thehindu.com/environment/uttar-pradesh-kelhariya-water-scarcity-development-issues/article69214549.ece
Har Ghar Jal Mission: https://jaljeevanmission.gov.in
 |
| NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION |
| MANAV ADHIKAR BHAWAN BLOCK-C, GPO COMPLEX, INA, NEW DELHI- 110023 |
| Fax No.: 011-24651332 Website: www.nhrc.nic.in |
| (Law Division) |
| Case No.- 10648/24/19/2025 |
| Date : 28/01/2026 |
| To, |
| THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE DISTRICT COLLECTORATE, CHANDAULI UTTAR PRADESH 232104 Email- dmchn@nic.in |
| Sub : Complaint/ Intimation from |
LENIN RAGHUVANSHI |
| Subject: Action Taken Report Called for(ATR) -10648/24/19/2025. |
| Sir/ Madam, |
| The complaint/ intimation dated 25/02/2025, was placed before the Commission on 28/01/2026. Upon perusing the same, the Commission directed as follows: |
| The Commission has received a complaint from Shri Lenin Raghuvanshi, a human rights activist from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh alleging that the residents of Kelhariya village of Chandauli district, Uttar Pradesh, have been facing acute water shortage since several years. The complainant has also alleged that the basic facilities like roads, hospitals, schools are not available in the village. The villagers have to travel long distances for schools and basic medical care. Despite making several complaints, no action has been taken by the authorities, till date. The complainant has requested the Commission to intervene into the matter. |
| 2. Accordingly, I am forwarding herewith a copy of the complaint/ intimation as an attachment for taking appropriate action in the matter as per the directions of the Commission. It is requested that an Action Taken Report be sent to the Commission within 4 weeks from the date of receipt of this letter. |
| 3. Any communication by public authorities in this matter may please be sent to the Commission through the HRCNet Portal (https://hrcnet.nic.in) by using id and password already provided to the public authorities (click Authority Login). Any Audio/ Video CDs/ pen drives etc. may be sent through Speed Post/ per bearer. The reports/ responses sent through email may not be entertained. |
Your’s faithfully |
| CC to |
Complainant Details Mukesh |
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