The marginalised Roma community living in the village of Torysa, near Sabinov in east Slovakia, are enjoying a safe and secure supply of quality drinking water thanks to a project backed by the European Regional Development Fund. Around 230 Roma inhabitants now have access to the local water supply system through the project, which installed a 35 m-long pipeline and water dispenser with heating options. In addition, two jobs were created for local Roma who help to manage the new facilities.
Roma community in east Slovakia connected to water network
- 24 July 2020
By ensuring access to quality and safe drinking water, the inhabitants of this marginalised Roma community improve their social situation, primarily by increasing the quality of their housing and household management. Access to water is a prerequisite for ensuring personal hygiene, an important factor in the integration of all age groups of the Roma community into society in places such as educational institutions and healthcare facilities, and in the provision of public and state services, for job searches, and in the labour market.
As well as laying and extending the drinking water pipeline, the construction scheme included earthwork excavations and the installation of fittings and inspection shafts. Local roads disturbed through the works were refurbished and relayed. In addition, the drinking water dispensing site was paved and provided with relevant maintenance equipment.
Fair and equitable access
This project solved drinking water issues in the village, making a safe supply accessible to all residents under the same conditions. In this way, fair access to drinking water – sufficient in terms of quantity and quality for all inhabitants of the Roma community – has been effectively ensured.
The scheme contributes to Slovakia’s objective of integrating Roma communities into wider society. Along with providing assistance to improve living conditions and health, EU funds are also being deployed in the country to integrate Roma people through a range of initiatives in areas such as education, training and employment.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Improving access to drinking water for Roma communities in municipality Torysa” is EUR 10 711, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 9 104 through the “Human Resources” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Technical facilities in municipalities with high share of marginalised Roma communities”.