India, April 1 -- Making ends meet is a daily challenge for many slum dwellers of Keshari Nagar basti in Unit-3 area of Bhubaneswar. Their meager earnings barely cover daily meals, yet one of them, Rina Pradhan, has received a staggering water bill of 18,083.

The slum, home to around 1,500 people from 300 families, consists mostly of domestic workers, daily labourers, and small vendors. Previously, these residents collected water twice a day from a common point. However, after being promised a continuous water supply, individual pipeline connections with meters were installed at their houses. The problem arose when no one took regular meter readings, yet suddenly, massive bills started arriving.

Rina Pradhan is among the many affected....