World Water Day 2016: Will Jobs Ever be Created?

As World Water Day is observed on March 22 since 1993 with the theme designated by the UN — "Better water, better jobs", several organisations such as UN-WATER and UN-HABITAT are organising the day officially on behest of the UN.

While the UN says that a billion people around the world still do not have access to safe drinking water, it has focused on creating more jobs related to water this year.

"Today, almost half of the world’s workers – 1.5 billion people – work in water related sectors and nearly all jobs depend on water and those that ensure its safe delivery. Yet the millions of people who work in water are often not recognized or protected by basic labour rights. The theme in 2016 — water and jobs — is focusing on how enough quantity and quality of water can change workers’ lives and livelihoods – and even transform societies and economies," it said.

The UN video on water revealed that half of all workers on Earth were employed in water-related sectors, though many of them were unrecognized and unprotected. The World Water Day is observed to create awareness about conservation and protection of water resources.

Also, a number of NGOs promoting water conservation, water harvesting and sustainable aquatic habitats organize activities to focus public awareness, attention and action on the local water issues.

Here are some key facts according to Water.org:

WATER

1 in 10 people lack access to safe water

SANITATION

1 in 3 people lack access to a toilet

WOMEN & CHILDREN

Women and children spend 125 million hours each day collecting water

DISEASE

Every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease

ECONOMICS

Every $1 invested in water and sanitation provides a $4 economic return