Towards Drinking Water Security

Water and Sanitation ProgramThe World Bank55 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003, IndiaPhone: (91-11) 24690488, 24690489Fax: (91-11) 24628250E-mail: [email protected] site: www.wsp.org

Ministry of Rural DevelopmentDepartment of Drinking Water and Sanitation9th Floor, Paryavaran BhawanCGO Complex, Lodi RoadNew Delhi 110003, IndiaPhone: (91-11) 24362705Fax: (91-11) 24361062E-mail: [email protected] site: www.ddws.nic.in/

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Towards

Lessons from the Field

In IndiaDrinking Water Security

Towards



From Dreams to RealityContentsAcronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................5

Foreword .....................................................................................................................................................................................7

Improved Rural Water Supply Service ....................................................................................................................... 11• 24x7WaterSupply:SavingPeopleTime,WaterandEnergyCost ...................................................................................12• MeteringHouseholdConnections:ForEquitableDistributionofWaterand FinanciallySelf-SustainableWaterSchemes ...........................................................................................................................13• EfficientCollectionofWaterTaxesandOperationofWaterSupplySchemeby Women’sSelfHelpGroups ............................................................................................................................................................16• AnIndependentSocietytoManageWaterSupplyServicewithGreaterAuthorityandEfficiency ...................19• 24x7WaterSupplywithClusterStorage:IncreasingIncomesandSchoolAttendanceand ReducingHealthExpenditures ....................................................................................................................................................21• ThreeTaps,OneToilet,OneBathroomforAll:Inclusion,HighLevelofServicesand Long-termSupportEnsureSustainability ...............................................................................................................................23• EnhancingOwnershipandAccesstoWaterandSanitationwithSwajal .....................................................................27• AnEfficientSystemtoRecoverWaterTaxes ............................................................................................................................31• CommunityContractingforCostEfficiency,TransparencyandAccountabilityinConstruction ........................32• SuccessfulImplementationofSectorReformPilotProject:PanchayatiRajInstitutionscanDoit! ...................35• Successful24x7WaterSupplyinaSmallTown ......................................................................................................................38• UseofSolarEnergyforDualPumpScheme:ABoonforWomen ...................................................................................42• PeertoPeerLearning:TrainingofCommunitiesbyCommunities .................................................................................45

Multi-Village Scheme Innovations ..............................................................................................................................47• PublicComplaintRedressalSystem:IncreasedConsumerVoiceandServiceProviderAccountability ............48• OperationandManagementofRegionalWaterSupplySchemeby JointVillageWaterSupplyCommittee......................................................................................................................................52

Water Quality ......................................................................................................................................................................... 55• SustainingNirmalGramStatus ....................................................................................................................................................56• StatusofArsenicMitigationSchemesinWestBengal ........................................................................................................59• CommunityEmpowermentforEfficientHandPumpO&M ..............................................................................................62• EnsuringGoodSafeWaterwiththeWaterSafetyPlan .......................................................................................................65• AVillageModelforWaterSupplyandSanitation .................................................................................................................68• DefluoridationofWater:APublicPrivatePartnershipInitiative ......................................................................................70

ToWARdS dRInkIng WATeR SecuRITy In IndIA

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Source Sustainability ......................................................................................................................................................... 73• WaterHarvestingtoAugmentWaterResources:TraditionalTechnologyandCommunitiesare PartoftheSolution ..........................................................................................................................................................................74• SourceProtectiontoEnhanceMultipleUsesofDrinkingWater .....................................................................................77• AchievingSustainableAquifersthroughCommunityParticipation,Sciencesand DemandManagement ...................................................................................................................................................................78• WaterConservation–AnInnovativeProcess .........................................................................................................................84• CommunityManagedDemand-sideGroundWaterManagement ................................................................................86• RenovationofTraditionalWaterBodies(Oorani)toSustainAccessto DrinkingWaterforRuralCommunities .....................................................................................................................................92

Waste Water Management .............................................................................................................................................. 95• CombiningWaterSupplyandSewerageandRecyclingofWasteWaterforIrrigation: AnInterestingExample .................................................................................................................................................................97

communication for Water ................................................................................................................................................ 99• RuralWaterSupplyandSanitationProject ........................................................................................................................... 101• EngagingtheCommunity .......................................................................................................................................................... 103• SuccessfulModelofPublicPrivatePartnershipinCommunications..........................................................................104

State Level Reforms ..........................................................................................................................................................107• TowardsaUniformApproachforDecentralizedServiceDelivery .............................................................................. 108• UttarakhandRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationProject:AFlag-beareroftheSectorWideApproach ......... 111

LeSSonS FRoM The FIeLd

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Acronyms and AbbreviationsAFPRO ActionforFoodProduction

AKRSP-I AgaKhanRuralSupportProgram-India

APFAMGS AndhraPradeshFarmerManagedGroundwaterSystems

ARWSP AcceleratedRuralWaterSupplyProgramme

AWMAs AquiferWaterManagementAssociations

AWMS AquiferWaterManagementSabha

BG BeneficiaryGroup

BPL belowpovertyline

CCDU CommunicationandCapacityDevelopmentUnit

CLTS CommunityLedTotalSanitation

CWB CropWaterBudgeting

CWS CenterforWaterandSanitation

DIA DistrictImplementingAgency

DSMG DemandSideGroundwaterManagement

DSU districtsupportunit

DWSM DistrictWaterandSanitationMission

DWSS DepartmentofWaterSupplyandSanitation

ESR ElevatedStorageReservoir

FAO FoodandAgricultureOrganization

FFS Farmer Field School

FWS Farmer Water School

GIS geographicinformationsystem

GMC GroundwaterMonitoringCommittee

GP GramPanchayat

GPOBA GlobalPartnershipforOutput-BasedAssistance

GPS GlobalPositioningSystem

GSDA GroundwaterSurveysandDevelopmentAgency

GVRT GramPanchayatVolunteerResourceTeam

ha hectare

ha m hectare metre

HDPE HighDensityPolyethylene

HRD humanresourcedevelopment

HUN HydrologicalUnitNetwork

ICPP IntegratedChildProtectionProgramme

IDA InternationalDevelopmentAgency

IDP InternallyDisplacedPeople

IEC information,educationandcommunication

IVR InteractiveVoiceResponse

KL kilolitre

KRWSA KeralaRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationAgency

lpcd litrespercapitaperday

lpm litreperminute

m3 cubicmetre

MANTRA MovementandActionNetworkfortheTransformationofRuralAreas

MEDA MaharashtraEnergyDevelopmentAgency

M-DAWS Multi-DistrictAssessmentofWaterSafety

MDG MillenniumDevelopmentGoal

MDPE MediumDensityPolyethylene

mg/l milligramperlitre

MJP MaharashtraJeevanPradhikaran

MoU MemorandumofUnderstanding

MSEB MaharashtraStateElectricityBoard

MTBF MeanTimeBetweenFailure

MVS MultiVillageScheme

MWS multi-villagewaterscheme

NABARD NationalBankforAgricultureandRuralDevelopment

NGP NirmalGramPuruskar

NGO non-governmentorganization

NREGS NationalRuralEmploymentGuaranteeScheme

NRDWP NationalRuralDrinkingWaterProgramme


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ODF opendefecationfree

O&M operationandmaintenance

PHED PublicHealthEngineeringDepartment

PRI PanchayatiRajInstitution

PRWSSP PunjabRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationProject

PSU ProjectSupportUnit

PWS pipedwaterscheme

RGNDWM RajivGandhiNationalDrinkingWaterMission

RMDD DepartmentofRuralManagementandDevelopment

RO reverseosmosis

RSPMU ReformSupportProjectManagementUnit

RTI Right to Information

RWSS RuralWaterSupplyandSanitation

SC ScheduledCaste

SDF SikkimDevelopmentFoundation

SHG SelfHelpGroup

SIRD StateInstituteofRuralDevelopment

SLSSC StateLevelSchemeSanctioningCommittee

SNK ShikayatNivaranKendra

SRP SectorReformPilotProject

SSF Slow Sand Filter

ST ScheduledTribe

SVS SingleVillageScheme

SWAp sectorwideapproach

SWSM StateWaterandSanitationMission

TBS TarunBharatSangh

TSG TechnicalSupportGroup

TWAD TamilNaduWaterSupplyandDrainage

UFW unaccountedforwater

UJN UttarakhandPeyjalNigam

UJS UttarakhandJal

UV ultraviolet

UWSSC UserWaterSupplyandSanitationCommittee

VCA VanvasiChetnaAshram

VWSC VillageWaterandSanitationCommittee

WASMO WaterandSanitationManagementOrganization

WSP WaterandSanitationProgram

WUG WaterUserGroup

Numbers1lakh=1,00,0001crore=10,000,000


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ForewordIndiabeingavastanddiversecountry,wefacemanychallengesinensuringreliable,sustainablesafedrinkingwatersupplytoruralhouseholdsofthecountry.Though,intermsofprovisionofsafedrinkingwater,wehavecoveredmorethan90percentoftheruralhouseholds,accordingtotheNationalSampleSurveyOffice(NSSO)65throundsurvey2008-09,wehavetorecognizethatmuchremainstobedonetoimprovelevelsofservicedelivery,waterqualityandsustainability.ThoughchemicalcontaminationofdrinkingwaterisbeingtackledtodayintheNationalRuralDrinkingWaterProgramme(NRDWP),bacteriologicalcontamination,whichismoredangerousandalsomoreprevalent,hastobesystematicallymeasuredandtackled.ThisrequiresconvergencewiththeTotalSanitationCampaigntoensureanopendefecationfreeandcleanenvironment.Slightlymorethan30percentofruralhouseholdsobtaintheirdrinkingwatersupplythroughtapswhicharemoreconvenient,savingtimeandlabourspeciallyofwomenandchildren.However,thisvarieswidelyrangingfromlessthan5percentinUttarPradeshandBihartomorethan80percentinTamilNaduandHimachalPradesh.

InthecourseofimplementationofruralwatersupplyschemessincethelaunchingoftheAcceleratedRuralWaterSupplyProgramme(ARWSP)in1972andRajivGandhiNationalDrinkingWaterMission(RGNDWM)in1986andNRDWPin2009,alargenumberofsuccessfulmodelsofprovidingsustainableandsafedrinkingwaterhavebeentriedoutthroughoutthecountry.Thesearebuildontraditionalexperienceandalsochartoutnewpathsusingthelatesttechnologiesandinnatewisdomofthepeople.Thoughconditionsvarywidelyamongthestates,intoday’sglobalizedworldwherecountrieslearnfromoneanother,therearemanylessonsthatstatesandregionsofthecountriescanlearnfromeachother.Expertsandpractitionersinthefieldofruralwatersupplyareawareofmanygoodpracticesthathavesucceededandsustainedindifferentpartsofthecountry.

WiththehelpofWaterandSanitationProgram(WSP),theDepartmentofDrinkingWaterandSanitationhascollectedsomemodelsofgoodpracticesfromdifferentpartsofthecountry.Carehasbeentakentoensurethesearedrawnfromasmanystatesaspossible.Inaddition,thegoodpracticesidentifiedcoveravarietyofareasrangingfromimprovedservicedelivery,operationofmulti-villageschemes,efficientoperationandmaintenance,ensuringwaterquality,measurestoensuresourcesustainability,pioneeringeffortsforwastewatermanagement,effectivecommunicationpracticesthathavebeenadoptedandinstitutionalreformsatstatelevelthathavebeentriedout.


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Wecanseefromthesecasestudiesthatlocalgovernments,throughcommunityparticipation,havebeenabletoprovide24x7watersupplytosavewomen’stime,waterandenergycost,installhouseholdconnectionswithmeterstoprovideeachandeveryonewithanadequateserviceandachievefinancialsustainability,entrustindependentbodiestotakecareofoperationandmaintenance,developefficientwatertaxcollection,learnfromoneanothertoimprovetheirmanagementpractice,increaseconsumervoicesandserviceprovidersaccountability,andmanagemulti-villagesschemes.

Waterqualitycanalsobetackled,byensuringanopendefecationfreeenvironment,empoweringcommunitiestodevelopwatersafetyplans,protecttheirsourcesanddeveloppartnershipwiththeprivatesectorforprovidingpurifiedwaterfordrinkingpurposeataffordableprice.

Achievingsustainableaquifersispossiblewithcommunityparticipation,traditionaltechnology,scienceanddemandmanagement.Thegroundwatertablecanbeincreasedby20to50feet,deadriverscouldbebroughtbacktolifeanddarkzonesbroughtbacktowhitezones.

Itisrecognizedthattherearemanymoresuchpracticesthatneedtobedocumented.

Wehopethatdifferentstateswouldidentifytheirownbestpracticesanddocumentthematthestatelevel.TheDepartmentwouldbehappytobringoutfurthercompendiaofgoodpracticesthatdonotfindplaceinthiscompendium.

Totakethelessonsfromthesegoodpracticesforward,theStateDepartmentsinchargeofruralwatersupplyareencouragedtosendteamsofelectedpanchayatrepresentatives,engineersandgrassrootlevelworkerstoseethegoodpracticesforthemselvestolearnfrom them.

Iwishtoplaceonrecordourdeepappreciationofalloftheofficialsofthestateandcentralgovernments,PanchayatiRajInstitutions,non-governmentalorganizations,externalassistanceagencies,partners,andgrassrootlevelchampionsofallstateswhohaveworkedtirelesslytofindnewandbetterwaystoensuredrinkingwatersecuritytoruralcommunities.

(Arun kumar Misra)


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What drinking Water Security Means

Everyruralpersonhasadequatesafewaterfordrinking,cookingandotherdomesticbasicneedsonasustainablebasis.Safewatershouldbereadilyandconvenientlyaccessibleatall times and in all situations.

What drinking Water Security Involves

1. Planforimproved rural water supplyservice,basedonclearoperating,maintenanceandmanagementproceduresincludingclearoperationandmaintenance(O&M)costrecoverypolicy,measurementforequitabledistribution,andtransparentarrangementforrenewal,replacementandexpansionofthesourceand/orthesystems.

2. Designandimplementofaseriesofpreventivemeasuresatthebasin,source,systemandhouseholdlevelstoprotectwaterqualityanddevelopwaterqualitytestingfacilitiesatappropriatelevelsinthefieldforensuringthequality of drinking water supply.

3. Measurewateravailabilityandsupply(waterbudgeting),implementmeasurestoconserve,protect,enhanceandmanagesurfaceandgroundwaterresources(includingconstructionofrainwaterharvestingandgroundwaterrechargestructures),developlocalselfregulationforwaterdemandmanagement,modifyagriculturalpracticesandcroppatternsanduseofmoreefficientirrigationsystemstoensuresource sustainability.

coMPendIuM oF RuRAL WATeR good PRAcTIceS FRoM IndIA

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IMPROVEDRURALWATERSUPPLySERVICE


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JeparofChudaTalukainSurendranagarDistrict,Gujarat,isavillagethatembracedthedecentralizedcommunitymanagedwatersupplysystemin2006.Ithasdevelopedawaterdistributionsystem,whichallowsall160householdstohavetapconnectionsandenjoy24x7watersupply.Thevillage’stwosourcesofwater–awellandNarmadapipewatersupplysystem–supplementeachothertoensureregularsafewatersupplytothevillage.Thetotalstoragecapacity

Inputs by: WASMo, Gujarat

isanElevatedStorageReservoir(ESR)of50,000litresandonesumpof20,000litres.

Beforethevillageadoptedthe24x7watersupplysystemin2006,thesupplywasavailableforabouttwohoursadayandtheaverageconsumptionofwaterwasaround400litresperdayperhousehold.Wheneachhouseholdwasassuredof24x7supply,theconsumptionperhouseholdreducedto250litresperhousehold,thussaving25,000

24x7WaterSupply:SavingPeopleTime, WaterandEnergyCostLocation: Jepar village, Surendranagar district, gujarat

litresperdaywhichrepresents38percentofthewaterpreviouslydistributed.Powerconsumptionreducedtooby4.39unitsperdayor a decrease in one-third of the previouselectricitybill;anannualsavingofaboutRs.7,900.

Thereductioninconsumptionofwateroccurredprimarilybecausepeopleabandonedthepracticeofstoringwatertocoverseveraldays’needs.Now,125villagesinGujarataresuccessfullyoperatingthe24x7watersupplysystem.

Table 1: A comparative statement of consumption of water and power per day in Jepar

No.of Water Waterconsumption Powerconsumption Savingconnections consumption perday(litres) perday(units) ofpower(Nos.) forcattle atRs.5/unit (litres) (Rupees)

Before After Water Before After Unit Per Per 24x7 24x7 saving 24x7 24x7 saving day year (2hrs/day) (2hrs/day)

160 10,000 65,000 40,000 25,000 13.15units 8.76units 4.39units 21.95 7,900


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1Sources: Mr. P. Shivashankar, Chief Executive Officer, Zila Panchayat, Mangalore, Karnataka.


MeteringHouseholdConnections: ForEquitableDistributionofWaterand FinanciallySelf-SustainableWaterSchemesLocation : dakshina kannada district, karnataka

DakshinaKannada,acoastaldistrictinKarnatakaborderingKerala,issituatedonthewesterncoastofIndia,whichspreadsfromtheWesternGhatstotheArabianSea.Themajorpartofitslengthliesalongtheseaboard.Thepopulationisabout1.3millionpeople(2001census).Thedistrictischaracterizedbyscatteredhabitations,isolatedhouseholds,hillyterrainandsalinewaterinthecoastalbeltinthesummermonths.Thedistrictismadeoffiveblocksand203GramPanchayats(GPs)including368villagesand2,683habitations.

In2010,128of203GPs1adoptedmetersforhouseholdconnectionscoupledwithvolumetric-basedtariffandcomputerizedbillingandcollectioninDakshinaKannadaDistrict.ThisisuniqueinruralIndia.In2010,therewereabout43,000meteredconnectionsagainstlessthan4,500priortoadoptionofthispractice.

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Table 2: Taluka-wise types of schemes and the number of house connections in dakshina kannada

Taluka No.ofWSschemesbytype Totalhouse No.ofmetered MWS PWS HP connections connections

Mangalore 402 271 1,294 31,414 16,244(52%)Bantwal 206 213 1,123 21,332 4,401(21%)Puttur 156 238 1,233 13,815 10,952(79%)Sulia 49 108 682 5,259 3,466(66%)Belthangadi 96 159 887 1,08,949 8,564(79%)Total 909 989 5,219 82,714 43,627(53%)

Metershavesuccessfullyaddressedtheissueofunequaldistributionofdrinkingwater,misuseofwaterbyadvantagegroups,constantcomplaintsaboutinadequatesupplyofdrinkingwater,non-paymentofwatertariffduetopoorservicesandunbalancedbudgetleadingtohugependingelectricitybillsanddiversionofdevelopmentfunds towards maintenance of schemesbytheGPs.Metershavesavedwaterandenergycost.Eventually,everyhouseholdgetswatersupplyandpaysaccordingto what it uses.

ThemetershavealsotriggeredtheprofessionalizationoftheVillageWaterandSanitationCommittees(VWSCs).VWSCsbegantohireandmanagetechnicalstaff,preparetheannualbudget,reporttoGPauthoritiesandtheGramSabha,fixandadjusttarifftofullycoverincreasingoperationandmaintenance(O&M)cost,chargeonvolumetricbasis,anddevelopacomputerizedbillingandcollectionsystem.Infact,VWSCsmanagetheirwatersupplysystems on a utility management model.

ThefirstGPthatintroducedmeters for all house connections

isKinnigoliGP,in2000,underthesectorreformprogramintroducedbytheGovernmentofIndia.BasedonthesuccessinKinnigoli,meteringwasadoptedbyotherGPswithguidancefromthedistrict-levelofficialsinDakshinaKannada.DistrictandBlocklevelmeetingsoftheGPs’PresidentsandSecretarieswere the forums for sharing the experiences,whichworkedverywell.Sincethen,GPsinotherdistrictssuchasDavangereandShimogainKarnatakahavealsoadoptedmeterstoimprovewaterservicesandsavewaterandenergy cost.

The cost of the meters is generally bornebythehouseholdsin addition to a one-time connection fee and installation costs. In case of the households belongingtotheScheduledCastes(SCs)andScheduledtribes(STs),theGPshavemettheexpenditurestowardsthemeterandconnectionfromGPfundsmeantforSCs/STsundervariousprograms.Presently,eachmetercostsuptoRs.750withpropercoverforprotection.Thelifeofthemeterisaroundfiveyearsdependingonpreventivecare.Mostmetersareavailableinthelocal market and manufactured eitherinBangalore(state

capital)orPunjab.TheVWSCtakestheresponsibilityofeitherreplacementofthemeterorrepairofthedefectivemeters.

MonthlytariffvariesfromGPtoGP.MostGPshaveoptedforvolumetricbillingbasedonconsumption.Therearedifferentslabswithaminimumchargeof around Rs. 50. There are differenttariffsfordomesticandcommercial users.

EachGP/VWSChasafixedtimeframeformetering,billingandcollectionoftariffs.Theresponsibilityofmeterreading,issuingthebillsandcollectionrestswiththepumpoperatororbillcollectororanyotheravailablefunctionariesintheGP/village.Recoveryofwatersupplytariff ismorethan90percentin the district.

TheintroductionofmetershelpedtheGPs,withsupportfromVWSCs,tofulfillGovernmentofKarnatakarequirementsalongwithdeliveringamuchbetterservice.SincetheKarnatakaPanchayatRajAct,1993,O&MofruralwatersupplyschemeshasbeenastatutoryresponsibilityofGPs.In2002,theGovernmentofKarnatakaissuedordersstipulatingthatGPsshouldalso

MWS: multi-village water scheme; PWS: Piped water scheme; HP: Hand pump; WS: Water supply


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recoverfullO&McostsfromtheusersonlyandthedevelopmentgrantsshouldnotbedivertedtotheO&Mexpenses.

Thisexperiencedemonstratesthat,ifproperlymanaged,drinkingwatersupplyschemescanbemadefinanciallyself-sustainable.MostVWSCsmanagingpipedwatersystemswith metered connections in the districtareabletomeetO&Mexpenditure.SomeGPshavesubstantialamountofbankbalancetoearnagoodamountofinterestonthedeposits,asshownfromthesurveyinsevenvillagesinDakshinaKannadaDistrictinTable3.InTokur,forinstance,theVWSCisworkingforthelast10years.Itisproviding24x7watersupplyforthelastsevenyearsandmaintainingabankbalanceofmorethanRs.5,00,000intheVWSCaccount.Thevillagealsopumpsfourtimeslesswatersincethemeterswereinstalled.Meterssavewaterandenergy.

Metersquicklyandfullyaddressedtheissuesofpoorserviceand

Table 3: Income and expenditure on water supply of the sample villages for 2008-09

Village/GP Income Expenditure(Rs.) Surplus/ (Rs.) Salaries Electricity Repairs Total deficit

Tokur# 179,976** 28,754 19,200 21,595 62,838 +110,427Guthakadu# 152,660 57,557 33,000 24,872 115,429 +37,231Haleyangadi* 783,064 214,600 225,800 179,353 618,953*** +164,111AmaturKeshavanagar# 29,700 10,000 31,018 300 44,018 -14,318Amaturjunction# 104,304 24,000 52,508 6,600 83,108 +21,196PilathaBettu* 716,820 - - - 617,662 +99,158Kukkipadu* 257,273 64,200 121,703 62,838 248,741 +8,532

inequitabledistributionofwater.Thebenefitsofmeterswereimmediateandundisputable.Theywerethebestandsimplestsolutiontotheproblemsofunequaldistribution.TheKannadadistrictexperiencealsoshowsthatempowermentofGPsto take charge of the technical andfinancialresponsibilitiesforO&MandtheautonomyofVWSCsin day-to-day management of

Inputs by: Mariappa kullapa and christophe Prevost, WaterandSanitationProgram,e-mail:[email protected]


Note: ** including the interest of Rs. 32,547 on bank balance of the VWSC ; *** including capital expenditure of Rs. 50,000; # Single villages/schemes ; *Entire GPs covering more than one village as well as water supply schemes.

thesystemwerecriticalstepstoresolvetheselocalissues,tobuiltaprofessionalmanagementandsustaintheserviceovertime.StrongsupportfromtheBlockand Districts authorities was also absolutelycriticaltoscalingupthispracticeandinachievingimpressiveresults.Thenextmainissueistosetupclearprocedurestoensurethequalityofwaterdistributed.


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Tosustainawatersupplyscheme,collectionofwatertaxiscritical.Thisisoneofthemajorchallengesfaced across the country and Maharashtraisnoexception.Variousideaswereexaminedtosolvethisdilemma.OnewasadoptedinKhambegaonGP,thatprovidedanewmodelcalledtheKhambegaonmodel.

ThemodelisbasedonentrustingSelfHelpGroups(SHGs)withtheresponsibilityofwatertaxcollectionandday-to-dayO&Mofthewatersupplyscheme,

EfficientCollectionofWaterTaxesandOperationof WaterSupplySchemebyWomen’sSelfHelpGroupsLocation: khambegaon gram Panchayat, Parbhani district, Maharashtra

whereintheGPretainsonlytheresponsibilityofheavymaintenance,basedonan80/20percentshareofthewatertaxescollected.ThisideawasdevelopedintheWorldBank-fundedJalswarajyaProject.Khambegaonwatersupplyschememaintenanceisasuccessfulmodeloffering thefullestpotentialofreplicationacrosstheprojectvillages wheretheSHGsarestrong andempowered.

Since1980s,theGovernmentof India has shown increasing

concern for women’s issues. Empowermentofwomenanditssubsequentimplementationboostedthewomen’sSHGmovementacrossthecountry.Ruraldevelopmentreceiveda new face in the form of activeparticipationbywomenandwomen’sgroupsinthedecisionmakingprocesses,implementationofschemesandprojectsattheGPlevel.Thesloganoftheprojectwas lokancha pudhakar tyat shasanancha sahabhag (peoples’leadershipandgovernments’


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participation).Theparadigmshiftfrom‘demanddrivenpolicy’to‘supplydrivenpolicy’sawamajorbreakthroughinthesectorandyieldedoverwhelmingresponsefromcommunities.SHGsintheJalswarajyaprojectinitiatedover27,000incomegenerationactivitieswithinthestate.

Khambegaonhasapopulationof1,500peopleandgotanewpipedwatersupplyschemetomanage.TheJalswarajyaprojectidentifiedwomenasanimportantstakeholderinthisprocessdrivenapproachandincorporatedvariousmeasuresfortheiractiveparticipation,taking into consideration the amendmentintheMumbaiVillagePanchayatAct1959.For formation of constitutional committeesinGramSabhas,a50percentwomen’squorumisstatutory,50percentwomenmustbeinvariouscommittees,andaseparatesub-componentforwomen’sdevelopmentisthekeysteptoaddresstheempowermentissue.Thesecomponentsaimedtoempowerthewomentoplayaneffective

roleinvillagedevelopmentactivities,includingwatersupplyandsanitation.O&MofthewatersupplyschemeisaninnovativeactivitystartedbytheSHGsofKhambegaonGP.

SailaniWomen’sSHGtookuptheinnovativeworkofwatertaxcollectioninMay2008.TheSHGfirstundertooktheexerciseof understanding the reasons behindpoortaxcollection.Theydecided that the communities shouldpaythewatertaxinadvancesothatthehabitofpayingforservicesisdeveloped.

TheSHG’swomenadoptedvariousmethodsfortaxcollection.Firstofall,inameeting,theydecidedtopayregulartax.Secondly,theycarriedoutdoor-to-doorvisitstoexplaintheimportancetaxpayment.Theresultswereseeninamonth’stime.WiththehelpoftheGP,aseparatewomen’sgramsabhawasorganized.Itwas unanimously decided to paytaxforthesustainabilityofthewatersupplyscheme.ThisSHGcollectedanadvance

of Rs. 100 and regular monthly collectionofRs.30perhousehold.Theyachievedasuccessful90percentcollection.TheinnovationwassuccessfulandtheGramSabhadecidedto enter an agreement with the SHGfortaxcollection.

OnMay17,2008,ameetingoftheSarpanchandofficerswasorganizedinwhichtheSHGmemberssharedtheirideasabouttheO&Mofthewatersupplyschemewhichwereappreciatedbyseniorofficers.Adetailcircularwas issued stating that the maintenanceofwatersupplyschemesmustbecarriedoutbySHGsandthemodelmustbereplicatedinthestate.Thecircularincluded detailed guidelines regardingexpensessuchasthesalaryofwaterman,TCLpowderandminorrepairs.TheSHGwouldget80percentoftheannualtotalcollectionoftaxtocoverregularoperationand20percentwouldbegiventotheGPforitsmaintenancefund.TheSHGssavetheirprofitandutilizeittobuildacorpusandtoprovideloansto itsmembers.


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ThemodelhasbeensuccessfullyoperatingforthreeyearsandtheSHGs’incomehasrisenfromamereRs.6,000toRs.56,000yearly.Thispart-timeprofitmakingactivityhasboostedtheconfidenceoftheSHGs.Khambegaonhasbecomeasuccessfulexampleofsustainedwatertaxcollection,andapromisingmodelthatcanbereplicated.

Some factors for success includetheactiveparticipationofSHGs,thefaithshownby

Table 4: Balance sheet of the water supply scheme managed by Self help group in khambegaon

Totalno.ofhouseholds 140Total no. of connections 135Monthlycollectionperhousehold 30

Items Expenditure Revenue Rs. Rs.

Watermanpayment:750*12 9,000MSEBlightbillyearly 5,000TCLPowder:240Rs.*12 2,880Otherexp:500*12 6,00020%AmounttoGP 9,720Numberofconnection*watertax*12months 48,600Total 32,000 48,600Balance 16,000

theGramSabhainSHGs,thecleardistributionofrolesandresponsibilitieswithinSHGsandGPs,theinitialrecognitionreceivedacrossthestate,andfinallytheincentivesthroughincomegenerationformembersofSHGs.

Currently,theKhambegaonmodelhasbeenreplicatedin 253GPsinMaharashtra. However,thereisaneedforcontinuoushandholdingofGPsandSHGsasthecommittees keepchanging.

MSEB: Maharashtra State Electricity Board

Inputs by: Mahadeo Jogdand, GenderSpecialist, JalswarajyaProject(RSPMU)WaterSupplyandSanitation,andS.N.N.Raghava,

WaterandSanitationSpecialist,SASDU,WorldBank


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Chinchalihasapopulationofabout25,000people.Twodecadesago,thisvillagewaswellknowninthedistrictforwaterscarcity.Womenandmenusedtocarrywaterfromariver2-3kilometresaway.However,thesituationistotallydifferenttoday.ThefirstpipedwatersupplyschemewasintroducedtothevillageundertheWorldBank-assistedIntegratedRuralWaterSupplyandEnvironmentalSanitationProjectin1994andsubsequentlyaugmentedduring2001-02underthesecondWorldBank-assistedJalnirmalproject.

Waterissuppliedeverydayforabouttwohours.Thevillagepipedwatersupplyschemeusesasurfacesource,hasanindependentwatertreatmentplant,pumpingmachinery(80HP)and1,100cubicmetre(m3)storagecapacity,andabout49,00metresofdistributionlines.Thewaterissuppliedthroughprivatehouseconnectionsaswellaspublicstandposts.Thereare810houseconnectionscomparedtoonly394in2001andtheremaininghouseholdsfetchwaterfromthepublicstandpostorsharetheprivateconnections.

Whatisuniqueisthatthewatersupplysystemisoperatedandmaintainedbyanindependentsociety.In2008,theVWSCchangeditsstatustobecomeanindependentsociety,fullyregistered,tobettermanagethesystem.Thesocietyiscomprisedof14villageleadersfromdifferentsections,whowereallmembersoftheVWSC.

TheGPandtheindependentsocietyhavesignedaMemorandumofUnderstanding(MoU)twoyearsago.Basically,theGPistheowneroftheassetswhilethesociety(KrishnaDrinkingWaterSupplyandRuralDevelopmentSociety)isresponsibleforoperations,repairs,maintenance,expansion,andbillingandcollectionoftariff.

TheMoUdetailsthefollowingpoints:

Functions of gP

• TheGPistheowneroftheallwatersupplyassets.Itisresponsibleforaccordingpermissionsforanynewwaterconnections

• Itisalsoresponsibleforfixingandrevisingtariffbasedonthebudgetforecastproposedbythesociety

Functions of the society (operator)

• Operation,repairsandmaintenanceofthewatersupplyscheme• Anyrepair(tobeattendedtowithin24hours)• Billingandcollection.• RetainingincometocoverallO&Mcharges• Placingmoneycollectedasonetimeconnectionfeeinfixeddeposits

AnIndependentSocietytoManageWaterSupplyServicewithGreaterAuthorityandEfficiencyLocation: chinchali village, Belgaum district, karnataka


2020

• Monthlyexpensessuchasallwages,electricitybills,O&Mexpenditures

• SubmittingdetailsregardingincomeandexpendituretotheGPeverymonthandsharingwith the community once a year

• Financingextensionofthedistributionlinetofacilitate new house connections

• Testingwaterqualityonaregularbasis

Initially,whileplanningandimplementationoftheWorldBankassistedproject,theVWSCwasestablishedinthevillagetomobilizethecommunity.Afterthecompletionoftheprojectin2002,theGPtookovertheresponsibilityofO&M.However,theGPwasunabletorecoverthewatertarifforcontrolillegalconnections.Asaresult,theO&MresponsibilitywastransferredtotheVWSCin2003.DespitetheefficientandtransparentmanagementofthesystembytheVWSC,somehouseholds(particularly,therichandvillagepoliticians)wereresistingpayingforwater.TheVWSCdidnothavelegalpowerstoissuenoticestodefaulteranddisconnect.ThisisthemainreasonforregisteringtheVWSCasanindependentsocietyundertheKarnatakaSocietyActin2008-09andsigninganMoUwiththeGPforO&Mofthewatersupplysystems,withclearrolesandresponsibilityandpowers.

Varioustrainingandawarenessbuildingactivitieshavebeencarriedoutbythedistrictsupportunit(DSU)oftheJalnirmalproject.Inaddition,adviceandtraininghavebeenprovidedbyDSU.

ThecurrentwatertariffisRs.60andRs.10permonthforprivatehouseholdconnectionsandpublicstandpostusers,respectively.ThesocietyhasbeenabletorecoverthetariffandhasapositivebankbalanceofRs.3,00,000;therearenopendingbills.

Thankstothecommunity’scommitment,thewatersupplysystemhasbeenwellmaintainedforthelastnineyears.Transparencyisakeyfeatureofthecommunity’spractice.Detailsofincomeandexpenditurehavebeenpublishedandsharedwithallcustomersinthevillagesforthelast10year.Recordsrelatedtofinancialmatters,includingthecapitalcostsharing,areavailablewiththesociety.

Thenextprojectofthesocietyistointroducemeteringtocontinuetoprovidegoodandequitableservicetotheincreasingpopulation,reduceelectricitybillsandsavewater.

Inputs by: Mariappa kullapa and christophe Prevost, WaterandSanitationProgram,e-mail:[email protected]



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The378householdsofKhintalavillageinSaylaTaluka,SurendranagarDistrict,usedtofaceseverewatersupplyproblems.Thereisnolocalgroundwateraquiferavailableand,therefore,nohandpumps.Thenearestsourcewasariverabout2.5kilometresfromthevillage.Womenandmenusedtospendaboutthreetofourhoursfetchingdrinkingwaterfromthissource.Thevillagewascoveredbygovernmentschemesbutthewaterseldomreachedthevillage.

Thischangedwhenanewwatersupplyschemewasconstructedbasedonthe‘clusterstorage’design,proposedbytheWaterandSanitationManagementOrganization(WASMO)andtheAgaKhanRuralSupportProgram-India(AKRSP-I)aspartoftheSwajaldharascheme.Thevillagewasdividedinto16clusters.Waterpumpedfromtheintake-wellwasdistributedtoeachclusterstorage.

24x7WaterSupplywithClusterStorage:IncreasingIncomesandSchoolAttendanceandReducingHealthExpendituresLocation : khintala village, Surendranagar district, gujarat

Figure 1: cluster storage network in village khintala

Eachundergroundstoragehasacapacityof10m3 andisequippedwithahandpumponthetop.Itcanstorewatertosupply20-25householdsperday.Twostoragesareconstructedintheprimaryschoolforschoolchildren.Theschemehasbeenrunningsuccessfullyfrom2004andlifeofthepeopleinKhintalahasgreatlyimproved.

Clusterstoragehasmanyadvantages.Firstly,waterisavailableatanytime;infact,manyseethisasa24x7waterservice.Secondly,powerconsumptionisreducedasthereisnoneedtopumpwatertoanelevatedtank.Thirdly,undergroundstoragetanksareeasytoclean.Finally,itiseasytorepairhandpumpsontanks.Overall,O&Mcostsarelowerthanwithpipedwatersupplyschemes.

Itallstartedin2004whenaschoolteacherfromthevillage,Mr.JoruBhai,heardaboutWASMOandtheSwajaldharascheme.Hehelddiscussionswithinthevillagetoconvincepeopletotakeupthisschemetosolvetheirdrinkingwaterproblems.However,therewasresistancetocontributing10percenttowardsthecapitalcost,asthevillagersfeltthattheirmoneywouldnotbewellutilized.AKRPS-IalsosupportedMr.JoruBhai.Finally,thepeopleagreedtoparticipateinthescheme.ThevillagersformedaPaniSamiti(equivalentoftheVWSCinotherstates)with14members,includingfourwomen.AKRSP-IandWASMOdistrictteamstrainedthePaniSamititomanagethewatersupplysystem.ThecostoftheprojectwasRs.14,00,000andthecommunity’scontributionwasRs.1,35,000;theremaining90percentwasprovidedbyWASMO.

ThePaniSamitiisresponsibleforO&Mofthesystem.Inconsultationwiththevillagers,thePaniSamitidecidedRs.150peryearasa‘waterusercharge’foreveryhousehold.ThechargeforindividualconnectionsisRs.450/year(about20households

BIGTANK

WELL

BORE

KolhipatelDurbar

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SC

Devipujak

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Rabari

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School

2525

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havetakenconnections).ThePaniSamitiundertakesregular chlorination of all tanks and monitors cleansingoftanksbybeneficiaryhouseholds.WiththesavingsintheO&Maccount,ithasbuiltcattletroughs.InJuly2008,thePaniSamitihadsavingsofRs.41,000initsaccount.

Theimpactoftheschemehasbeenoutstandingasrevealedbythe2008AKRSP-Istudy.Bothwomenandmensavedabout3.8hourswiththenewscheme.Someofthistimeisproductivelyusedtoenhancetheirincomes.IncomesacrossallgroupshaveincreasedfromRs.300/monthforlandlesslabourers;Rs.400/monthformarginalfarmers; Rs.700/monthforsmallfarmers;Rs.1,100/monthformedium-sizedfarmersandRs.13,00/monthfor large farmers.

Theoverallfamilyexpenditureonhealthhassignificantlydecreasedoverthefouryears.Healthproblemsincluded,besidewaterbornediseases,headache,acutechestaches,andbackacheandspineailmentsinwomenduetocarryingwaterforlongdistances.Theaverageannualexpenditureondiseasesaftertheschemewasimplementedis Rs.500perhouseholdcomparedtoRs.1,820earlier;apercentagereductionof72percentforthevillage.

Theschooldropoutratehadreducedto1.5percentin2007comparedto10-15percentbeforetheimplementationofthescheme.Earlier,aswomenwerebusyfetchingwater,girlchildrenwereinvolvedin domestic chores.

AccordingtoMr.JoruBhai,50percentcreditforhigher school attendance goes to the drinking water supplysystemand50percenttotheotherfactorssuchasincreaseinawarenessabouteducation,activeinvolvementofteachers,developedinfrastructure and sanitation facilities in the school.

Figure 2: Average monthly income of households (Rs.)

Figure 3: expenditure on disease (Rs.)

Figure 4: number of children being admitted to school

Inputs by: Jonnalagadda V. Raman Murty, WaterandSanitationProgram,e-mail:[email protected]

7000

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Landless

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beforeimplementation

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264 259 255 268 246269

226215223216197186

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008


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UniquetoGramVikas2 is the adoptionofthesocialinclusionapproachwhereinallfamiliesofahabitation,irrespectiveoftheireconomic,socialandcasteconsiderations,areprovidedthesameinfrastructureandservice.UndertheGramVikasscheme,everyfamilygetsaccesstogoodqualitytoiletsandbathrooms,coupledwiththreetapsperhouseholdand24x7pipedwater

supply.GramVikas’schemeintegratestheconceptsofdemand-ledsupplythroughdecisionmakingprocessesandcost sharing.

Inaddition,thisschemediffersfromotherapproachesbybreakingwiththeformulathatequatespoorpeoplewithlowqualityservicesandproducts.Thequality,convenienceandprivacyofthe

designhavereallychangedthedailylivesofthesepoorruralcommunitiesandledtowidespreadbehaviourchange,inducingcommunities with no history of fixedpointdefecationtoadoptnewhabits.GramVikas’MovementandActionNetworkfortheTransformationofRuralAreas(MANTRA),asonMarch31,2010,hasservedabout2,50,000peoplein787villagesin22districtsofOrissa.

2 Joe Madiath, Gram Vikas, Mohuda, Berhampur Ganjam, Orissa; www.gramvikas.org; [email protected]

ThreeTaps,OneToilet,OneBathroomforAll: Inclusion,HighLevelofServicesand Long-termSupportEnsureSustainabilityLocation: orissa


24

GramVikas’coreprogram,MANTRA,isaresponsetotheabysmalqualityoflifeprevailinginruralOrissa.MANTRAisanintegratedhabitatdevelopmentprogramwithwaterandsanitationasthekeyentry-pointactivity.TheMANTRAapproachsetsanewpatternforwaterandsanitationcoveragebyprioritizingsanitation in addition to safe drinking water.

Cleanwaterwillremainadistantdreamuntilopendefecationiseradicated throughout the community.Therefore,toiletsandshowerroomsarebuiltfirst.Ineachvillage,people,primarilythelandless,aretrainedinmasonry,enablingthemtocontributeskilledlabour.Themasonsleadthe construction of the toilets and bathrooms.Investmentcostperhousehold for toilet and bathroomisestimatedatRs.10,000,ofwhichhouseholdscontributetwo-thirdsandGramVikasonethird.Householdscontributeintheformofcollectionoflocallyavailablematerial–stones,sand,makingbricksandunskilledlabour.Gram

Vikas’contributionisexternalmaterialincludingceramicpan,footpads,doors,andcementandsteelforroofcasting.However,thesubsidyamountisfixedatalimitofRs.3,000perfamily.Subsidiesarereleasedoncealltoiletwallsareuptotherooflevelandthetwosoakpitsarecompleteandcovered.Allvillagersbuildpour-flushtwinpitlatrines.Pipedwaterisimportantbecauseithasbeenfound,overtime,thattoiletswithoutwatersupplyareineffectiveandunused.

Thewatersupplysystemisdesignedtoprovide70litresperpersonperday.Allhouseholdscontributetothebuildingofthewatertankinlabourandinmaterial.Themainpipelineisprovidedthroughthegovernmentwatersupplyprogram,whilepeoplebearthecostoflayingthedistributionpipestoindividualhouseholds.Interestingly,participationofallhouseholdsisanon-negotiableconditionoftheprogram.Equalrepresentationandparticipationof men and women in community decision-making and control are

the key features of the institution buildingprocess.Astheresultofthe100percentinclusioncriteria,it could take one or two years or evenmoreforacommunitytoagreetoworkwiththeprogram.CapacitiesofmenandwomenintechnicalandorganizationalaspectsarebuiltovertimetoenablehandingovertocommunitiesandGramVikas’withdrawal. The maintenance of infrastructureistheresponsibilityofthevillagers.Localyoutharetrained to undertake minor repairsandmaintenanceofthepump,motorandpipelines.Since2009,whereverwaterispumpedusingelectricity,communities are installing water meters to bettercontrolwateruseandpromoteequity.

Ninety-sixpercentofwatersupplysystems constructed are still operational,evenaftermorethan10yearsinsomeinstances.(Theoldest systems are 13 years old and thelatesttwomonths.)ThatmeansthatcommunitieshavebeenabletocoverO&Mandmanagementcoststhroughvariousstrategies,suchas:(i)collectinguserfeesto


25

paythemonthlyelectricitybill;and(ii)usingtheincomefromcommunityhorticulturepatches,fishrearingincommunitypondsand social forestry according to context-specificresources.Ifthisisnotenough,thevillagescontributeanother0.5or1percentofthegrossproductatharvesttime.Sincetheinceptionoftheprogram,fivepumpshavebeenreplacedbythecommunitywiththeir own funds at a cost of Rs.25,000.

Ontheotherhand,tocopewiththepopulationgrowth,theinterestonthecorpusfundisusedforextendingsupporttonewfamilies,thusensuring100percentcoverageofallfamiliesatalltimesinthefuture.Nearly300familieshavebenefitedfromthisarrangement since 1996.

Sourceandenvironmentalsustainabilityisalsoaddressed.Insomedrought-proneareassuch

asinwesternOrissa,groundwaterrechargeisimplementedinabout30percentoftheschemestoraisethewatertableandpreventspringsfromdryingupthroughwatershed management activities.Theareaaroundthesourceiskeptcleantopreventpollutionofthewaterandensurethepipesarenotblockedbydebris.Thetreecoveraroundthesourceofthespringismaintainedatthewatershedleveltoslowdownsurfacewaterrun-off.

Incaseofgravityflowwatersupplysystems,thoughtheinitialinvestmentcanbehigh(dependingonthelengthofpipelineandsizeofstoragetank),therecurringcostsarelow.Ontheotherhand,tubewellsanddugwellsrequirewatertobepumped,thusraisingthecostofO&M.Tomeetoperationscost,amonthlyfeeperhouseholdofRs.30to50isfixedtopaytheelectricitybillforpumping(Rs.800to1,500).In

caseofmetering,thetariffishalfpaiseperlitre(Rs.5perm3).AssumingthatthemonthlyhouseholdbudgetisRs.3,000,waterexpenditurerepresentsabout1-2percent,whichcomparesfavourablytoacceptablestandards.

Thewatersourceisphysicallyandchemicallytestedbeforethewatersupplyisconnected.Oncethesupplyisconnected,wateristestedeverythreemonthsinthedryseasonandalmosteverymonthintherainyseasonas,afteraheavydownpour,itismostvulnerabletotheinfiltrationofcontaminants.Insomeareas,itwas found that contaminants suchasarsenic,fluorideandnitratesinthetubewellwaterhaveincreased.

GramVikaseducatespeopleabouthealthandhygiene,handwashingandtheimportanceofcleanlinessingeneral.Theimpact


26

Inputs by: christophe Prevost and dr. Suseel Samuel, WaterandSanitationProgram,e-mail:[email protected]

onpeople’shealthisimpressive.Datafor2006showthatof81,000villagers,wherethewaterandsanitationprogramisimplemented,themajoritywerefreefromdiseases.AninternalanalysisbyGramVikasoftheirhealthdataforasampleof4,976peopleshowsan85percentreductioninwaterbornediseases/illnessoverallafterimplementationofthewaterandsanitationprogram,with88-90percentreductioninincidenceofdiarrhoea,jaundiceandmalaria.

Programruleshaveevolvedovertimebutkeyprincipleshaveremainedthesame:“allornone”and“toiletbeforewater”meansthatthevillagebecomesfreeofopendefecationsoonafterthefacilitiesarebuiltandhealthbenefitsareexperiencedattheearlystage.GramVikasenablesthecommunitytobecome

self-reliant.Communitiesdrivetheprogramandbearalargeproportionoftheworkandcosts.TheGovernmentofOrissaplaysthe role of a facilitator in this particularschemeandprovidesthebulkoffinancingforthewatersupplyinfrastructure.

Thisexperienceshowsthatverypoorandsmallcommunitiescanmanage and take charge of the O&Mcost.Highlevelsofservicealong with the community’s long-termsupportarekeyfactorsforsustainableservicedelivery.Thehighlevelofservicesmakesarealdifferenceinpeople’slife.Householdconnectionsand24x7servicesparewomenthedrudgery of fetching and carryingwater,andgivesthemmoretimetopursueproductiveactivities.Toiletsprovideprivacyandconveniencetowomen,sparingthemtheindignityof

havingtowalktopotentiallyunsafeplacesinthehoursofdarknessjusttoperformbasicbodilyfunctions.Bathingroomseliminatetheneedtobathefullyclothed and often in the presenceofmenincontaminatedpondsinwhichanimalswallow.Thereisclearlya“willingness topay”forthisimprovedlevel ofservice.

Long-term technical and institutionalsupportprovidedbyGramVikastobuildcapacityofthe community to take care of the system,developnormsforO&Mand undertake other developmentactivitiesisalsocritical.Incorporatinglivelihoodstraining(fishfarming,socialforestry,masonry,plumbing,etc.)asanintegralpartofthelong-termsupportprogramhelpsthecommunitytomeetcapitalandO&Mcosts.


27

KumbhroraislocatedinthedroughthitareaofMahobaDistrict,onahillyslope,andisinhabitedby1,619people.

Beforeimplementationofthedugwell-basedpipedwatersupplyscheme,thevillagesufferedfromlackofwater;thethreeopenwellsandeighthandpumpswereinadequatetomeetdemand.Thehandpumps,installedbyJalNigam,driedupduringthedryseasonasthegroundwaterlevelsdropped.Theminimumdischargeavailableinsummerwas10to15litreperminute(lpm).Theopenwellswerenotprotected;theirsurroundingswereunhygienic,leadingtothethreatofwaterbornediseases.

Peoplewereunawareofhealthysanitationpracticesandopendefecationwasrampant,leadingtoaseriousenvironmentalthreatforthevillageandalsothewatersource.Thesmalltankinthevillageusedbyvillagersforbathing,animalwashing,washingclothesandotherdailywork,wasthesourceofdiseaseandinfectionasthemajorityofhouseholdswasdependentonthishighlypollutedwater.Theotherwatersourcewassituatedfarfromthevillageandinaccessibleintherainy season.

TheprojectobjectivesweretoimprovethequalityoflifeofthevillagersthroughinterventionsinwaterandsanitationtoenhanceaccessofthecommunitytowaterandsanitationbyinvolvingthegovernmentandtheGPandenhancingpeople’sownershipofthescheme,whichwereachievedtoagreaterextentduringtheprojectperiod.

Kumbhrorawasselectedin1996aspartoftheSwajalprojectinphaseone.Theplanningphasetookninemonths.Ademanddrivenapproachwasthecriteriaforvillageselection.Thecommunityplayedaleadingroleinplanningandimplementationactivitiesthroughdecisionmaking.SupportorganizationssuchasGramonnatiSansthanprovidedsupportincommunitydevelopmentactivitiesaswellasconstructionwork.Women’sdevelopmentactivitieswereundertakenforwomen’sempowermentwithanemphasisonbehaviouralchange.Asystemiclearningapproachwasfollowedthroughoutthescheme.Abalancedapproachtohygieneandsanitationawareness;achoiceamongdifferentwaterandsanitationtechnologies;strongemphasisonwaterandsanitationapproaches;thestrengtheningofenvironmentalcatchmentprotection,watershedmanagementandwatersecurityplanforthevillage;systematicuseoftheparticipatorymethod;a

EnhancingOwnershipandAccesstoWaterandSanitationwithSwajalLocation: kumbhrora village, Mahoba district, uttar Pradesh


28

community-basedapproachtoservicedelivery;andcommunity-basedO&Mofthewatersupplyschemeweretheprojectpriorities.

Mobilizationofresourcesincluded:SwajalprojectRs.9,02,551,WaterAidIndiaRs.1,30,000,andgovernmentandcommunitycontribution Rs.2,10,000.

Atpresent,theschemerunsonelectricpowersupply.WaterAidprovidedfurthersupporttoimplementintegratedwaterresourcesmanagementactivitiessuchasroofwaterharvestingwithrechargingpitandminicheckdamnearthewatersource,whichhascontributedtomakingtheschemesustainable.

Traditionalthinkinghamperedtheprogressoftheprojectinthebeginning.Theeldersfromthevillageswerenotreadytoacceptthesimplefactsrelatedtowaterandsanitation.Certaininnovationssuchasintegratedwaterresourcemanagementdidnotreceivesupportfromthecommunity.Thecommunity,withitsprejudicesandbiasesaboutnewtechnologyanditsusefulness,couldnotputafewchangesintopractice.Thefactthathandpumpsaresafersourcesofdrinkingwaterthanopenwellswasalsonotacceptedinthebeginning.Theage-oldmethodsofstorage,handlingandusingwaterandfoodwerefirstdiscussedandtheirprosandconswerealsoexplainedtothecommunity.Afterdemonstrationsandrigorousdiscussions,thecommunitybegantobeconvinced.Becauseoflowerlevelsofliteracy,theexposureofthevillagerswasalsolimitedandhenceawarenessgenerationtookmoretimethanexpected.

Droughtwasthebiggesthurdleduringtheprojectcycle.Around40-50percentofthevillagersmigratedbecauseofconsistentdroughtforfouryears.Theprogramreceivedasetbackinsomevillages,wherethemigrationwashigher.Inthesevillages,communityactionandindividualresponseswereslow.Peoplehadotherprioritiesratherthanconstructionoftoilets.Anotherdifficultywasthecollectionoflocalcontributions;theVWSChaddifficultiesincollectingtherequiredmoney.O&Malsotookabackseatsometime.TheVWSCworkedhardtopersuadepeopleandencouragethemintocommonaction.Butoncetheyunderstoodtheimportanceofwaterandsanitationinimprovinghealth,activitiesgainedmomentum.

Thankstotheproject,peoplehaverealizedtheimportanceofsafedrinkingwaterandareusinghandpumpsratherthanwellsfordrinkingwaterpurposes.Theincidenceofwaterbornediseaseshasreducedleadingtoimprovedstatusofhealthandlessexpenditureonillness;hygienicpracticesrelatedtowaterandfoodhaveconsiderablyimproved;thevillagershaveunderstoodtheimportanceofthequalityofwaterandtakenecessarymeasurestomaintainit;thecommunitynowhaslocalskilledpersonsforO&M;and,finally,theattitudeofdependencyeitheronthegovernmentororganizationshasreduced.


29

Thecommunity’ssenseofownershiphasincreasedandpeopledependonthemselvesforO&Mofwaterresources.

Atthebeginningoftheproject,itwasobservedthatitwasdifficulttocommunicateinformationtoadults.Childrenprovedtobethebestchangemakers.Theyhavetheinquisitivenessandadesiretolearn.Theycanpasstheinformationontotheirparentsandothereldersoncetheyunderstandit.Theactivitiesrelatedtothehygieneprogramwerebasedonthesefactsandweresuccessful.Parents,especiallywomen,startedsayingthattheyhadbeenpressurizedbytheirchildrentofollowsafeandhygienicpracticesrelatedtofoodandwaterhandlingandtheyweretryingtochangetheirbehaviour.

Bundelkhandisinfamousforitssocio-culturaltraditionsthatprovidehardlyanyspacetowomeninthepublicsphere.Womeninitiallyneedsomesupporttocomeoutandlearnandshareinformationandstartactuallyparticipatingindecisionmakingprocesses.Thisbooststheirconfidenceandgivesthemstatusinthefamilyandthevillage.Ittakesmonthstocreateaconduciveatmosphereforwomentocomeoutandparticipate.Oncetheybecomepartofvariouscommittees,theyareexposedtoanarrayofissuesandthis,inturn,encouragesthemtospeaktheirmind.Thisstrategyhashelpedtheprojectandnowwomenascaretakers,ashandpumpmechanics,asmembersofVWSC,areperformingwell.

Forsustainability,thegovernmenthastobeapartandparceloftheprogram.Knowingthis,Gramonnati,fromthefirstday,involvedvariousgovernmentdepartmentsintheproject.Departmentssuchaseducation,PanchayatRaj,health,andruraldevelopmentwereinvolvedfromtimetotime.TheresourcesofthegovernmentatPanchayat,BlockandDistrictlevelsweremobilized.Theofficerswerealsoinvitedforvariouscommunityprogramsthroughouttheprojectperiod.Theseofficerswerealsoinformedabouttheprogressoftheprojectandtheirguidance was sought.


30

Thiscontinuousinflowofinformationandsustainedeffortstocreateawarenesspaidoffintermsofchangeinbehaviourof60percentofthepopulation.However,thetaskwasindeedadifficultone.People,withtheirownconvictions,alwaystriedtofollowoldpatternsofbehaviour.Seniorcitizensarguedwithvillageworkersandittooktimeforthemtounderstandthereasonstochangetheirexistingbehaviour.

Aninitialsurveyshowedthat90percentofthepopulationwasunawareofhealthypracticesofhandlingfoodandwater.Duringinitialmeetings,peopledidnotshowinterestinthesetopics.AftermuchdeliberationwiththeVWSC,itwasdecidedtoconducthealthyhomecompetitionsineachvillagetocreateinterestandawarenessamongthepeopleabouthealthybehaviour.Thecommunitymonitoringteamsvisitedhousesandselectedthewinnersonthebasisofpre-decidedcriteria.Thehouseswithmaximummarksweregivengiftsatacommunityfunction.Thisstrategyprovedbeneficialas familymembersgainedstatusandrecognitionandwereselfmotivatedtofollow hygienicbehaviour.

Inthebeginning,whenhygieneeducatorsstartedtalkingaboutqualityofwateranditsrelationtovariousdiseases,noonebelievedthem.Peoplearguedthattheyhavebeendrinking water without testing for generations and did not feel the need to test it.

Throughaseriesofmeetingswithcommunity-basedorganizations,peoplewereconvincedtoundertakethisactivityintheirvillages.Theyweregiveninformationaboutvarioussalts,impuritiesinwateranddiseasestheycause.Waterfromvarioussources wastestedandresultswerediscussedwiththem.Afterseeingtheresults,peoplestartedusingwaterhandpumpsfordrinkingpurposesratherthanopenwells.Whenthis changehappened,thepercentageofwaterborneillnessesdecreased.Thisfactwasbroughttotheirnotice.Sincethen,testingofqualityofwaterhasbecomearegularfeatureoftheprogram.

Alltheseeffortshelpedthecommunityaswellasthegovernmenttobecomeactiveindeliveringimprovedservices.PeoplehavealsobecomeawareaboutdifferentschemesrelatedwithwaterandsanitationandhavepressurizedtheGPfortheirimplementation.Ithelpedtoestablishadirectcommunicationchannelbetweentheconcernedofficersandpeople.TheVWSCwasalsostrengthenedtouseaconvergenceapproach.

Inputs by: dr. Arvind khare is a social worker working with the NGOGramonnatiSansthan,Mahoba.E-mail:[email protected]


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AnEfficientSystemtoRecoverWaterTaxesLocation: Shiraguppi village, Belgaum district, karnataka

Shiraguppi,theGPheadquarters,issituatedatadistanceof150kilometresfromtheBelgaumDistrictcentreandliesatadistanceof60kilometresfromtheTalukcentre,Athani.RiverKrishnaflowsclosetothevillage.ThepopulationofShiraguppiis9,186.Sugarcaneistheprominentcommercialcrop.Shiraguppihasapipedwatersystemwith740homeshavingtapconnections.HomeconnectionsarechargedamonthlyfeeofRs.41.50.HouseholdsgettingwaterfromthepublictaparechargedamonthlyfeeofRs.10.

TheRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationCommitteegetsamonthlyelectricitybillof Rs.35-40,000,paideverytwo-threemonths.AftermostofthesugarcanegrowersofShiraguppiharvesttheircrop,theypaythewaterbillbetweenthemonthsofJanuary toMarch.InShiraguppi,themethodforpaymentofwaterbillsisunique.Door-to-doorcollectionofwatertaxhasbeenstopped.Thewaterusersthemselvespaytheannualwatertax.DefaultersareincentivizedtopaybyexcludingthemfromGPmeetingsandnotissuingthemcivicorlegaldocuments.

Three challan System

TheRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationCommitteehasanaccountinShiraguppi’sKarnatakaVikasaGrameenaBank.Allwatersusershavetopaywatertaxintothisaccount.Thereisachallansystemtopaythewatertax.Itisatri-copy(carboncopy)challan.Theyearofpaymentofthewatertax,propertynumberandnamemustbefilledinthechallan,alongwiththebillamount,andpaidtothebank.Ofthethreechallancopies,thebankretainsone,anotherisgiventotheRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationCommittee.Inthismanner,afterpayingthewatertax,thechallannumber,billnumber,billamountareallrecordedintheCommittee’srecords.Oneofthecopiesisretainedbythewateruser.

non-payment of Water Tax means non-issue of documents

ThosewhodonotpaywatertaxorotherbillsarenotissuedanydocumentsorcertificatesbytheGP.OnlyafterpayingthebillsaretheyallowedtoattendtheGPmeetings.

In2007-08,apersonfromthevillagepaidthousandsofrupeesaswatertaxatonego.Alongwithwatertax,thispersonhadnotpaidhisotherGPtaxesformanyyears.WhentheRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationCommitteemeetingwasheldinvillagecommunityhall,thisissuewasdiscussed.Itwassuggestedthatanoticebesentorprocessionorjatha go marchingtohomesofpeoplewhodonotpaytheirdues.However,inafewdays,thepersonpaidallhisduestogether,andhasbeenpromptwithhispaymentssince.

AwarenesslevelsamongthepeopleofShiraguppiaresohighthattheypaytheirwatertaxoftheirownvolition.

Inputs by: S.n.n. Raghava, WaterandSanitationSpecialist,SASDU,WorldBank


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Instead of engaging contractors tobuildthewatersupplysystems,BeneficiaryGroups(BGs)directlyprocurematerialsandconstruct the schemes on their own,employinglocalworkers–bothskilledandunskilled.Thecommunity contracting system adoptedintheimplementationoftheJalanidhiRuralWaterSupplyProjectinKeralahassuccessfullydemonstratedthevalueofempoweringcommunitiestoberesponsiblefortheimplementationandmanagementofthewatersupplysystems.

Communitycontractingresultedinsubstantialreductionintheconstructioncosts(about15percentlessthantheapprovedestimates),ensuringgoodqualityconstructionandtransparency.TheaveragecapitalcostpercapitaisaboutRs.3,000.Thisapproachalsohelpedinmobilizinglocalresources,especiallymanpowerforconstruction,andmakingthebeneficiariesactivelyinvolvedintheentireprocesswherebytheirownershipandsustainabilityof the schemes are enhanced. Equallyimportant,thewater

supplyschemescompletedandcommissionedarenowbeingoperatedandmaintained(manyofthesenowformorethanfiveyears)bytheBGs.Watertariffshavebeenfixedappropriately,correspondingtoO&Mexpenditures,andarebeingleviedand collected in all the schemes.

Theobjectiveoftheadoptionof the community contracting approachwastoensuretransparencyandaccountabilityintheconstructionactivitiesand eliminate contractors and

CommunityContractingforCostEfficiency,TransparencyandAccountabilityinConstructionLocation: Jalanidhi Rural Water Supply Project, kerala


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associatedproblems.TheprojectfundsweretransferredtothebankaccountsoftheBG.Allpaymentsweremadefromthataccountbytheoffice-bearersoftheBG.Therisk in entrusting the construction fundswiththeBGsandtheirlackoftechnicalcapacityinbuildingtheinfrastructurewasovercomethroughintensivecapacitybuildingprogramsfortheoffice-bearersofBGs,closemonitoringandsupervisionfromthestaffofthesupportorganizationsandKeralaRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationAgency(KRWSA)andputtinginplacenecessarysystemsforchecksandbalances.

Toensuretransparencyinpurchasesandpayments,regularmeetingsoftheExecutiveCommitteeandGeneralBodyoftheBGwereheld,inwhichquotationswerepresentedanddecisionstakencollectivelyforallmajorexpenses.Inordertofacilitateproperselectionof construction materials like pipesandtheirspecials,productdemonstrationswereorganizedinGPsinwhichmanufacturerswereinvitedtopresenttheirsamples.IndependentConstructionQualityMonitoringconsultantswereengagedtohelpensuretheappropriateness,timeliness

andqualityoftheconstructionundertaken and of the other servicesprovidedduringprojectimplementation.

TheJalanidhiProjectimplementedbytheGovernmentofKeralawithWorldBankassistanceadoptedthecommunitycontractingsystem,wherein the entire construction responsibilitywasvestedwiththeExecutiveCommitteeoftheBG.MembersoftheExecutiveCommitteeresponsiblefortheconstructionactivitiesweregiventraininginvariousaspectsofconstruction management such as procurementprocedures,qualityassessmentofmaterials,fundmanagement,recordkeeping,accounting,qualitychecks,etc.,bythetrainingdivisionofKRWSA.ThesupportorganizationsemployedattheGPlevelprovidedhandholdingsupporttotheExecutiveCommitteeoftheBGinconstruction management.

JalanidhiProjectwasimplementedin122GPsinKeraladuringtheperiod2001-08byKRWSA.Theprojectimplementedabout3,700microwatersupplyschemes mostly in remote and waterscarcelocations,whichbenefittedabout1.8millionpeopleintheruralareasof13districtsofKerala.

AtypicalJalanidhischemeprovidespipedwatertoabout50households,onanaverage,usingagroundwatersource(openwellsorborewells),storagetankandpumpinganddistributionlines.Thebeneficiaryhouseholdsareprovidedwithyardtapswhich


34

supplyabout70litrespercapitaperday(lpcd)ofdrinkingwater.The schemes are owned and operatedbytheBGs.O&Mcosts,includingpowercharges,wagesofthepumpoperatorandrepaircostsarebornefullybytheBGsbycollecting monthly water charges fromeverybeneficiaryhousehold.The monthly water charges are generallyaroundRs.40-50perhousehold.

TheGPsfacilitatedtheimplementationoftheschemesbyproviding10percentcontributiontowardsthecapitalcostandthenecessarytechnicalsupportthroughsupportorganizations.Thebeneficiariescontributed15percentofthecapitalcostandareresponsibleforO&Mcosts.Thebalance75percentofthecapitalcostwasprovidedbytheGovernmentofKeralausingtheWorldBankcredit.Therewasreducedbeneficiarycontributioninthecaseofmarginalizedcommunities(ST)andwithinaBGtherewascrosssubsidizationtoensureinclusionofthepooresthouseholdsinthevillages.OutofthetotalprojectfundingofRs.392.2crore,Rs.52.96crore had come as community contributionsandRs.26.82crorefromtheGPs.Eventhetribalpopulations,whohithertohadonlyreceivedfreeservices,haveacceptedthechangeinthinkingandcontributedRs.83.6lakhincashandlabourtowardstheircapitalcostcontributions.

Thiscostsharingapproachhasbeenconsideredasaneffectivemeansof“ownership”andasademonstrablecommitmenttowards the maintenance of the assetscreatedundertheprojectforthebeneficiaries.

The success of the community contractingapproachisevidentinthegoodqualityoftheinfrastructureconstructed,costsavings,timelycompletionofthework,communityownershipoftheassets,etc.Themajorityof the Jalanidhi schemes were completedbelowtheinitialestimated costs. The community contractingresultedin15percentsavingsinthecapitalcostsofwatersupplyandsanitationschemes.Therewastransparencyintheentireconstructionwork,with the community choosing andprocuringthematerialsandemployingtherequiredlabour.Paymentsweremadethroughtransparentprocesseswhichresultedinbeneficiariesgettingconvincedabouttheexpenditureandtheutilizationoftheresourcesattheirdisposal.Theprojectalsoshowedthattheinvolvementofpoorlyeducatedortechnicallyunqualifiedlocalpeopleintheplanning,design,contracting and management phaseshasnotadverselyaffectedthequalityoftheinfrastructure.Onthecontrary,themajorityoftheschemeshavebeencompletedwellintimeandwithsuperiorconstructionqualitystandards.

The success of the community contractingmethoddependsmainlyon:(i)thecapacitybuildingfortheleadersoftheBGsintheconstructionprocesses; (ii)thehandholdingsupporttotheBGduringtheconstructionphasethroughsupportmechanisms;and(iii)thechecksandbalancesinplacethroughappropriatesystemsinfundandprocurementmanagement.

The community contracting methodisreplicable.Itwillhelpinabigwaytogetthecommunityfullyinvolvedintheprojectprocessesanddevelopasenseofownershiptowardstheassetscreated.Itwillbringdowncostsandwintheconfidenceofthepeopleandbuildtheircapacitiesto successfully manage the systemsbythemselves.

Thisexperienceshowsthatthemyththatthevillagerscannotbuildengineeringprojectswasprovederroneousbythefactthatthousandsofsmallwatersupplyschemeswerebuiltsuccessfullyusing the community contracting method.Indeed,peoplecanimplementandmanagewatersupplyprojectsandmeettheO&Mneedsoftheresultantwatersupplyschemesiftheyareproperlytrainedandauthorizedtodoso.Transparencyandaccountabilitycanbeensured iftherolesandresponsibilities ofthedifferentstakeholders arebalancedthroughwell definedpowers.

Inputs by: dr. Suseel Samuel, WaterandSanitationSpecialist, WaterandSanitationProgram,e-mail:[email protected];R.R Mohan, SocialDevelopmentSpecialist,

WorldBank;Martin P. gambrill,SeniorWaterandSanitationSpecialist,SASDU,WorldBank;andghanasham V. Abhyankar,Consultant


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TheGovernmentofIndiainitiatedthereformprograminruraldrinkingwatersupplythroughtheSectorReformPilotProjects(SRPs)in67selecteddistrictsacrossthecountryin2001.InKerala,thedistrictsofKasaragodandKollamwereincludedinthisreforminitiativewhichaimed at facilitating demand driven,communitybasedmicrowatersupplyschemesinruralcommunities,sufferingduetoscarcityofproperdrinkingwaterfacilities.Thereformphilosophywastopromotecommunity

SuccessfulImplementationofSectorReformPilotProject: PanchayatiRajInstitutionscanDoit!Location : kasaragod district, kerala

participationandownershipindevelopingandmaintainingsimpleandsustainablewatersupplyschemeswhichcanensureaffordableandsafedrinkingwater.TheSRPinKasaragodDistrict has come out with flyingcoloursindemonstratingthefeasibilityandviabilityofcommunity managed water supplyprogramsintheruralareas.Thisdecentralizedapproachgeneratedtremendousenthusiasmandconfidenceamongthepeopletowardstheproject.Italsoensured

transparencyandaccountabilityinprojectimplementation.

ThestategovernmentdecidedtoentrusttheresponsibilityforimplementingthisSRPwiththePanchayatiRajInstitutions(PRIs).TheDistrictPanchayatwasmadetheimplementingagency.TheGPswerethegiventheresponsibilitytoidentifythewaterscarceareas,mobilizethecommunities,andplanandimplementthedrinkingwatersupplyschemes.SupportwasprovidedbytheProjectSupport


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Unit(PSU)andGramPanchayatVolunteerResourceTeam(GVRT).ThePSUhadamultidisciplinaryteamofprofessionalswithqualificationsandyearsofexperienceinmanagement,communitydevelopment,training,engineeringandfinance.TheGVRTalsowasamultidisciplinaryteamwithqualifiedpersonsinengineering,communitymobilization,accounts,etc.,andmanyofthemwereresidentsoftherespectiveGPs.WhilethePSUoperatedfromtheDistrictPanchayatoffice,theGVRToperatedfromtheGPoffice.TheGPsinKeralaarequitelargecomparedtootherstateswithapopulationofabout25,000,onanaverage.ThewatersupplyschemesareimplementedthroughBGsof households interested in becomingbeneficiariesoftheproject.TheseBGswereregisteredundertheCharitableSocietiesActwithaGeneralBodyofmemberhouseholds and an elected ExecutiveCommittee.Onanaverage,eachBGhadabout40-50memberhouseholds.

FiveGPswereselectedfortheinitialphaseandlateritwasextendedto12moreGPs.TheselectionoftheGPstookplacethroughatransparentprocessusingwelldefinedcriteria.IneveryGP,about25watersupplyschemes each were taken upafteradetailedresourcemappingandcommunitymobilizationprocess.Thewater scarce areas within a GPwereidentifiedthroughGramSabhasandBGswereformed.Theoffice-bearersoftheBGsweregivenintensive

theBGswereresponsibleforprocurementofmaterials,employingskilledandunskilledlabour,etc.TheSRPfundsweretransferredtothebankaccountsoftheBG.Allpaymentsweremade from that account. The progresswasmonitoredbytheGVRTandPSU.

Inall,439communitymanageddrinkingwatersupplyschemesand97schoolwatersupplyschemesin32GPswerecompletedunderSRPandthesubsequentSwajaldharaProject.Thesewatersupplyschemesbenefitabout1,50,900peoplein23,627households,whohavebeenprovidedwithhouse

O&Mcostincludingthepowercharges,wagestothepumpoperatorandtherepairexpensesarepaidfromthemonthlycollection of water charges from beneficiaryhouseholds,whichisonanaverageRs.50permonthperhousehold.Amajorityoftheseschemes(morethan90percent)arestillfunctional,quitewellmanagedbytheBGswiththeirownresourcesandnosubsidyfromthegovernmentorPRIs.

ThededicatedandefficientleadershipofthePRIsinthedistrictisthemajorreasonbehindthissuccessstory.TheleadershipofboththeDistrictPanchayatandtheGPsexhibited

trainingatvariousstagesofimplementationbythePSUandGVRT.TheBGswereactivelyinvolvedintheidentificationofthesource,designingthescheme,mobilizationofthe10percentbeneficiarycontributiontowardscapitalcost,constructionsupervision,etc.Theentire construction was carried out through the community contracting method in which

connectionsthroughayardtap,accordingtopeople’sdemand.ThetotalexpenditureisaboutRs.343millionofwhichthecommunitycontributedaboutRs.33million(10percent)andtherestwascontributedbytheGovernmentofIndia.

These schemes are now fully managedbytheBGsundertheguidanceoftheGPs.Theentire


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locally.Itiscosteffectiveand canprovidesatisfactorylevels ofservice.

Theprojecthasprovedthatrural communities are willing to contributetodevelopingfacilitiesfortheirbetterment.Thegeneralperceptionthatpeopleareunwillingtocontributeforwaterfacilitiesisnowanoldstory.Here,amajorityofthebeneficiariesarethepoor–belowpovertyline(BPL),SC/STandotherbackwardclasses.Theycontributed10percenttowardsthecapitalcostandarenowsharingtheO&Mcost without hesitation. The managementoftheO&MaspectsbytheBGs,especiallytheircontrolinregulationofwatersupplyand collection of monthly user charges,isanindicationoftheirlevelofownershipandcapacity.

The enthusiasm and momentum createdbytheSRPindevelopingacultureofparticipativedevelopmentintheruralcommunitiesofKasaragodistremendous. The success of this approachisnowmotivatingpeopleinuncoveredareastoputpressureontheirlocalgovernmentleadershiptoinitiatesimilarprogramsintheirlocalitiesalso.Attheendoftheprojectperiod,ithasemergedasagoodmodelforPRIled,demanddriven,and community managed water supplyprograminthestateandthe country.

Inputs by: dr. Suseel Samuel, WaterandSanitationSpecialist, WaterandSanitationProgram,e-mail:[email protected]

helptheBGstomanagevariousaspectslikeprocurement,finance,bookkeeping,O&M,monitoringandevaluation,etc.,aregoodexamplesofaneffectivecapacitydevelopmentstrategy.TheprojectimplementedseveralcapacitydevelopmentprogramsforthePRIstocapacitatethePRIrepresentativestoplayafacilitatingroleintheimplementationoftheproject.

Thetransparencywithwhichtheentireprocesswascarriedoutisanimportantfeature.Thecommunitycontractingprocessadoptedinconstructionoftheschemeshelpedineliminatingmalpractices.Thisenhancedthefaithofthepeopleinthisprogramwhichmaximized theirparticipation.Italsohelpedinreducingthecostswhich is reflected in the completionofschemesat about85percentcostoftheapprovedestimates.

Thesuccessoftheprojecthasdemonstratedthat,toalargeextent,solutionstodrinkingwaterproblemsinthevillagescanbefoundlocallybyharnessinglocal resources under the aegis ofthelocalgovernments.Theinitialsupportforinformation,education and communication (IEC),capacitybuildingandcapitalcostcanempowerpeopletomobilizethemselvesandactcollectivelytofindsolutions

Thecapacitydevelopmentactivitiesundertakenmadesubstantialcontributionintheeffectiveimplementationoftheproject.Iteducatedtheusergroupsonthephilosophyof community managed water supplyprogramsandcapacitatedthemtotakeupthechallengingtasksofbuildingawatersupplyschemebythemselves.Thevarioussystemsandproceduresdevelopedbytheprojectto

adeepsenseofcommitmentandworkedhardinimplementingthisdifficultnewinitiativewhichisdifferentfromtheconventionalsubsidyorientedprograms.ThematurityshownbythePRIleadershipinrisingabovenarrowpoliticalconsiderationsandcooperatinginsuccessfullyimplementingthisprojectisagoodmodelfordecentralizeddevelopmentadministration.


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Successful24x7WaterSupplyinaSmallTownLocation: Malkapur town, Satara district, Maharashtra

ThewatersupplysysteminMalkapurtownisthefirstinitiativeinIndiawheretheentiretownisoperatingon24x7basis.TheinitiativeatMalkapurhasledtoremarkableefficiencyimprovement:i)percapitadailyconsumptionreachedanaverageof110litres;ii)waterrequirementreducedby30percent; iii)operationalcostrequirementreducedbyRs.75,000permonth;iv)revenuecollectionefficiencyincreasedfrom60to80percent; v)sufficientpressureinthedistributionnetworkhasreducedelectricityconsumptionoftheMunicipalCouncilaswellasfortheconsumerstotheextentof27.528kilowatt(KWH)permonth;and,finally,unaccountedforwater(UFW)representsbetween 8-12percent,whichisanextremelygoodperformance.ThewatersupplysystemisoperatedbythetechnicalunitunderthesupervisionoftheMunicipalCouncil.

TheMalkapurareaiswellknownforitsenterprisingfarmersandanefficient co-operativesectormanagingsugarmills,liftirrigationsystems,milkproduction,andcollection and selling. It is fast growing town becauseadjoiningKaraddoesnothavespacetoaccommodateagrowingpopulation.Thegrowthratesbetween1981-91and1991-2001are58percentand275percent,respectively.Thepopulationin2009wasaround35,000whilethe1991censuspopulationwas5,976.In2007,Malkapurgotthestatusoftown.

Apipedwatersupplyscheme,commissionedin1988,wasdesignedforanexpectedpopulationof14,000in2010onthebasisof40lcpd.In2001,thepopulationwasalreadyabout23,000surpassingtheinitialforecast,whichresultedinpoorservicelevels.TheGPcouldnotmeetminimumrequirementforwaterevenafteroperatingthesystemforallthose hours of the day when electricity was


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available.Therewasnofixedtimeforwatersupplytothecitizens;it was usually two or three hours everyalternateday.Peoplehadtoresorttotankerandborewellwater.TheGPwasunderpressureandalsodependedon11borewellswithpowerpumps,inadditiontothepipedwatersupplysystem.Withnofixedscheduleforwatersupply,peoplehadtowaitdayornight.Thepoor,unreliable,untimelyserviceledtononrecoveryofwaterchargesfortheGP.Tryingtoprovideserviceunderthegivenconstraints,theGPincurredadditionalexpensesonenergyforborewellpumpsand tankers.

AugmentationofthewatersupplysystemwasapprovedinJune1999butstartedinDecember2002.Thesystemwasdesignedtoprovide55lpcdofwaterforapopulationof67,196peopleprojectedfortheyear2030.ThebulkwatersystemconsistedofwaterabstractionfromperennialriverKoyna,andpumpingittothewatertreatmentplant.Thetreatedwaterispumpedtothemasterbalancingreservoirlocatedonthehill. The treated and disinfected wateristransferredtothefiveservicereservoirscoveringsixzonesofdistribution.ThesystemuptotheESRwasreadybyJanuary2005.Watersupplydistributionwasdonethroughthe earlier system.

ThenextphaseforimprovingthewatersupplyinMalkapurfocusedonthedistributionnetwork.MaharashtraJeevanPradhikaran(MJP)suggestedtheconceptof24x7watersupply.TheengineersofMJPprovided“the”criticalinput,extensivemobilizationand

highqualitytechnicalsupporttotheGPtoensurethis24x7initiativesucceeded.

InJanuary2007,theGPmetandresolvedintheGramSabhatoeffectivelyimplement24x7watersupply.TheelectedrepresentativeandMJPengineersformed teams and conducted ward wise meeting of consumers andwomeninparticularandexplainedthebenefitsof24x7watersupply.Itwasalsoexplainedthattelescopicrateswouldhelptheminavoidingwastage of water. The charges wouldbeonlyforthewatertheyusedasreadbyameterasagainsttheearlierflatrates.Tocurbexcessiveutilizationofwaterbytheconsumers,theelectedrepresentatives,supportedbyMJP,agreedonthetelescopicratestariffstructureanddecidedonthreeslabswiththefollowingrates:upto70lpcdatRs.4.50per1,000litres;70to120lpcdat Rs.7.00per1,000litresandabove120lpcdatRs.10.00per1,000litres. Rates for commercial connections were decided asRs.9,14,and20per1,000litresdependingonthetypeofactivity.TheactualworkonthedistributionnetworkstartedinMarch2008.

TheGPandMJPpursuedtheinitiativeasasingleteam.TheGovernmentofMaharashtraprovidedcompletesupporttotheinitiativethroughfundingundertheAcceleratedRuralWaterSupplyProgramme(ARWSP).TheMemberSecretary,MJP,helpedinimpartingeducationforusingthesoftware,WaterGems,anddesigning the system himself whenhewasChiefEngineer.The

manufacturerofpolyethylenepipesallowedtheelectedrepresentativesandengineersofMJPtovisitthefactoryandexplainedmanufacturingandquality.TheaftersalesupportfromM/s.ARADMeters,Israel, isnotable.

The main outcomes of shifting to a24x7watersupplyare:

• Improvementindeliverytimeandservices.24x7supplyhastotallyremovedthe constraints of waiting for irregularwaterservicesandpeoplehavemoretimeforproductiveactivities.Womenareespeciallyappreciativeofthe24x7supplyastheydonothavetofetchthewaterfromlong distances.

• Qualityofwater.Thequalityof water is now guaranteed asthepipesarecontinuouslypressurized.KrishnaMedicalCollege,Karad,carriedoutastudyonthequalityofwaterafter the commissioning of the24x7system,andreportedthat100percentofthesampleswerepotableandfreefrom contamination.

• Decreaseinwaterborneillnesses in children. The surveycarriedoutbyAnganwadiSevikaindicatedthatthewaterbornediseasesinchildrenhavereducedremarkablytonearzerolevel.

• Reductioninwastageofwater.Wasteful use of water has reducedbyabout30percent.DemandmanagementbyIECandthetelescopictariffstructurecontributetothisperformance.Allzonesarenowgetting24x7supplyandpumpingrequirement


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hasdecreasedto13-14hourscomparedto19-20hoursbeforethedemandmanagementexerciseandimplementationofthetelescopictariff.

• Shiftingcontrolofthedistributionsystemfromthevalvemantotheconsumer.Valvesarenolongerrequiredtobeoperatedinthedistributionnetworkandconsumersdonotdependanymoreonthevalveoperators.

• Meterreadingandbillingaresimplified.Thetypeofwater meters installed can bereadremotelybydrivingthrough the streets using handhelddevicesandradiofrequency.Dataarefreefromerrorscomparedtomanualhandling. The readings are downloadedfromthei-paq(ahandhelddevice)tothecomputerandmonthlybillsare generated immediately. Thustheearlierannualbillingprocedureisnowcarriedoutonamonthlybasis.Asaresult,thecashflowoftheMunicipalCouncilhasimproved.Thesystem makes it easier for consumerstopayattheendofeachmonthcomparedtoearlier when a large sum had tobepaidonceayear.Atthesametime,revenuerecoveryhasimprovedfrom60percentearlierto80percentandisimprovingdaybyday.

• Savinginelectricity.HugesavingsinelectricityhavebeenmadeaswaterinnolongerrequiredtobepumpedbypeoplelivingintwoorthreestoreybuildingsandtheMunicipalCouncilalsostoppedusingits11power

pumpsonborewellsforsupplyingwater.Thishassavedelectricitytothetuneof3,30,336KWHayear,basisactualelectricitybillingdatapre-andpost-project.ThisexercisewascarriedouttosubmitaproposalfortheEnergyConservationAwardtotheMaharashtraEnergyDevelopmentAgency(MEDA).Theenergysavedisequivalenttoareductionof450tonnesofcarbondioxide

intheatmosphere.• Reductioninoperationcost.

Asimpleautomationsuchasoperatingrawwaterpumpsfrom the water treatment plantusingGSMtechnologyhas reduced the cost of operationastherawwaterpumpingstationisnowun-manned. This has eliminated therequirementoftwopumpoperatorsthere.

• ReductioninUFW.UsingAMRtypebulkmetershas

Box1:KeyprinciplesfollowedinMalkapurtoimplement24x7watersupply

Theconsumershallgetwaterwheneverheopensthetap.Consumersneedwateratdifferenttimesoftheday.Thismakesredundanttheconceptofstorageofwaterandthrowingitawaythenextdaywhenfreshwaterisreceived.Theinvestmentinstoragevessels/tanksalsocomestoanend.

Consumerspayastheyuse:Thisprincipleofconsumerspayingaspertheirusageprovidestheincentiveforresourceconservation.Themeteredwatersupplysystemprovidesanopportunitytochargeasperthevolumesofwaterconsumed,unlikeinun-meteredflatrates,wherethequantityconsumedisnot the criteria. This encourages consumers in a metered system tominimizetheuseofwater,closethetapwhentheydonotwantwater.Thishelpsthepressureinpipestobemaintainedandconsumerslocatedathigherelevationdonotsufferaslowerelevationconsumerstrytoclosethetapassoonastheirrequirementisfulfilled.Thisprovidesequityamongstconsumers.

Payathigherratewhenusinghigherpercapitawater:Thetelescopicratesadoptedrequirethehigherpercapitausageofwatertobepaidathigherrates.Theminimumrequiredwaterisprovidedataffordablerates.Thusthepoorarecateredtowhiletheyalsoenjoythebenefitof24x7wateravailability.Thehigherrateinslabsforhigherconsumptionrecyclesthewealthfromtherichtothepoor.

Theservicetoworkonnolossbasis:Thewatersupplyservicewasadvisednottoberunataloss.Tariffratesweredeterminedaccordingly.Greatcarewasalsoneededtokeepoperationalexpendituretoitsminimum.Effortsshouldbemadetoautomateasmanycomponentsofthesystemaspossible.


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Inputs by: Rajendra holani,ChiefEngineer,MaharashtraJeevanPradhikaran;Manohar Shinde, VicePresident,MalkapurNagarPanchyat;u.P. Bagade,SectionalEngineer,MJP;Basugade,

SectionalEngineer,MJP;Bhopale,SectionalEngineer,MJP

possibleatanypointoftimeandto100percentaccuracy.Fourthly,thesuccessfulimplementationofthetelescopictariffisanotherinnovativeaspectoftheinitiative.ItssuccessfulimplementationispossibleonlywithgreatestmicrodetailingandAMRtypemeters.Fifthly,theprovisionofbulkmetersattheoutletoftheESRandatconsumerpremises,andthepressuresensoratthesalientpointinthedistributionnetworkhasmadeitpossibletocalibratethe hydraulic model and simulate the system. This has made it possibletomonitorthesystemand determine where it has gonewrongbyunderstandingthepressuresensorreadingtransmittedtothecomputer,usingGSMatfixedtimeintervalsandcomparingitwiththerangeinwhichthepressureshouldnormallybe.Possibleleakagesinthesystemarediscoveredwithout going to site.

ByusingAMRmeters,ithasbecomepossibletounderstandtheleakagesintheplumbingsystemattheconsumer’spremisesevenbeyondthewatermeter.Thisispossiblebytakingreadingsatdifferentpointsintimeinadayornight. Those meters which show abnormallyhighconsumptionatnightcanbeinvestigatedbyapproachingtheconsumerandconfirmingwheretheleakagesareintheplumbingsystem.Thisexercisehasmadeconsumersaware and the leakages in

plumbinghavebeenremoved,leakingtapshavebeenchangedandtherehasbeenapositivechangeinhabitsofpeople

Theinitiativeisreplicablewherethesystemcapacityissufficientto cater to an increased demand inthetransitionphasewhenthetownisswitchingoverto24x7supplyanddemandiseffectivelymanagedthroughmassawarenessandtelescopicrateimplementation.Theperi-urbanareaswherethedistributionnetworkistobelaidtotallyafresharethebestareaswherethesystemcanbereplicatedsuccessfully.

Theschemeissustainable,bothphysicallyandfinancially.ThewateravailabilityinthesourceriverKoynaissufficient.Thesystemcapacityissufficienttotakecareoffluctuationsin demand for another 10-15 years.Financially,theschemeissustainableastheoperationscostandrevenuematchclosely.TheMunicipalCouncilhasdecidedtoincreasetherateseveryyeartoretainthesustainabilityofthesystem.Infact,acommitteeoftherulingparty,oppositionparty,expertsandthosewhowereopposingtheinitiativeorrequestingforlowerrateshasbeenconstituted.Thecommitteehasbeentaskedtoproposerates in such a manner that there willbenolossinoperatingthesystem.Therecoverylevelsarealso increasing.

madeitpossibletotakeallthe readings remotely and withthesesnapreadingsitispossibletocarryoutdayto day water audits. The measuredUFWinthesystemisbetween8-12percent,whichisanexcellentperformance.

Theprojecthascomeupwithanumberofinnovations.Firstly,thedesignoftheWaterGemssoftware to design the system. Secondly,theuseofrollsoflonglengthsofHighDensityPolyethylene(HDPE)pipesthatrequiresfewerjoints.Thejointsare made using electrical fusion weldedcouplersandspecials.Thehouseserviceconnectionsusefusionweldedtappingteesfixedwithbrassferrule,followedbycompressionfitting,singlelengthofMediumDensityPolyethylene(MDPE)pipetotapteetothemeterinthepremisesoftheconsumer’shouse,AMRmeterandballstopcocksbeforemeter.Allthismaterialofconstructionandjointingmethodology made the system innovativelyleakproof,whichisthebasicrequirementfor24x7operationofanysystem.Thirdly,theuseofAMRmetersforbulkmeteringtomeasuretheflowleavingservicereservoirsandonall consumers connections has madeitpossibletoreadthemusingahandhelddevicewhiledrivingalongthestreetfor10minutesforeachzone.Thishasmadeeffectivewaterauditing


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Morethan75percentofIndia’spopulationlivesinruralareasand85percentoftheruralwatersupplyisgroundwaterbased.HenceborewellswithIndiaMarkIIhandpumpsarethemostimportantelementsofruralwatersupply.However,itisalsoawellknownfactthat,duringsummerwhenthewaterlevelsdeplete,accessingwaterbecomesthatmuchmoredifficult.Ifpumpinglevelsdepletebelowtheliftingcapacityofthehandpump,36metres,itstopsworkingandwaterscarcity is declared in that area

UseofSolarEnergyforDualPumpScheme: ABoonforWomenLocation: Maharashtra

despitewaterbeingpresentintheborewell.Inruralareas,generallywomenhavetofacealltheseproblems.Thepatriarchalsocietyholdswomenresponsibleforsuchroutine tasks hence these women craveforatapwatersupply.

TheGroundwaterSurveysandDevelopmentAgency(GSDA)oftheWaterSupplyandSanitationDepartmentoftheGovernmentofMaharashtra,realizedtheplightof rural women and came forward withaninnovativesolutioncalledDualPumpScheme.

Inthisscheme,asinglephase1HPpoweredsubmersiblepumpisinstalledintheexistinghighyieldingborewellhavingahandpump.Pumpedwaterisstoredina5,000litretankandwatersupplyisprovidedtoeachhousethroughatap.Rooftoprainwaterharvestingismandatorytomaketheschemesustainable.Hence,watersupplyisrestoredbyeitheroneofthepumps.

Afterimplementationof1,000suchschemes,duetohugedemand,theGovernment


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ofMaharashtradecidedtoimplementtheseschemesusingrenewablesourcesofenergy such as solar energy in difficulthillyhabitations,whereelectricitysupplyisnotavailablenear the source. The scheme has becomeoneofthemostuseful,economical,eco-friendlyandpopularschemesinthestate.

TheseschemeshavenowbeenimplementedinLeftwingaffectedblocksofGadchiroliDistrict.Thesevillagesaresituatedindeepforestsandmostlyinaccessibleduetothehilly terrain where the collection ofrecoveryofthemaintenanceofthehandpumpschemeisaseriousproblemandrepairinghandpumpsisagreatproblemduetodifficultroadconditionsandinaccessibility,particularlyduring the rainy season.

Ifthesolarpumpdoesnotfunctionduetocloudyweather,peoplecanrestorethewatersupplywiththehelpofthehandpump,asusual.These

schemesdifferfromthepreviousschemeswhichareborewellbased.Earlier,submersiblepumpswereinstalledonthehigh yieldingborewellswithouttakingcareofartificialrecharge.Hence,shiftingofpumpswascommon when the ground water availabilitydecreased.Housetohousetapconnectionswerenotprovided.Pumpsinstalledwerealsoofhighercapacity.Electricitychargeswerebeyondthefinancialcapacityoftheendusers.Removalofthehandpumpcylinderandriserpipesforregularmaintenanceandrepairs,withoutremovingthesubmersiblepump,isappreciatedbythehandpumpmechanicsandvillageartisans,nowpossibleduetoaspecialwaterchamberdevelopedby theGSDA.

ThisisademanddrivenschemewithseveralIECactivitiescarriedoutattheBlockandZilaParishadlevels.Anumbersofworkshopswithaudiovideoandpowerpointpresentationswereconducted.Habitationswithhighyieldingborewellsandtotallydependentonhandpumpsmadeawareoftheschemewiththehelpofprintedmaterial.Adocumentarywasscreenedintheworkshopsand meetings. Junior engineers fromtheZilaParishadwereimpartedtraining.Progresswasreviewedatstate,regionalandDistrictlevels through videoconferencestosavetimeandmoney.AllschemesareimplementedbyGPsonly,undertheguidanceandsupervisionofengineersofthedepartment.

Theschemecomprisesfivemajorcomponents:i)highyielding

borewell/tubewell(yieldnotlessthan2,800litresperhour);ii)installationofsolarenergypoweredsubmersiblepumpswithrequiredphotovoltaicarrays;iii)HDPEstoragetankof5,000litrecapacityandarrangementforelevatingitto3metreheighttogivesufficientheadfor the distributionsystem;iv)distributionsystemfor30houseswithindividualtapconnections;andv)rainwaterharvestingstructure.

Asperdemand,individualtapconnectionscanbeprovidedbytheGP.Generally,twotothreestandpostsareprovidedatthebeginningtosupplywatertoallhabitats.TheGPcandecidetherateofrecoveryforO&Mofthescheme,whichisnegligibleasthefirstfiveyears’annualmaintenance of solar water pumpingsystemisprovidedfreebythesupplieraccordingto the terms and conditions of contract.

ThesolarwaterpumpingsystemispromotedbytheMinistryofNewandRenewableEnergy,GovernmentofIndia.Hence,subsidyattherateofRs.70perwattisreimbursedifthesystemwithoutbatterybackupisprocured.Generally,5,000litresof water is stored in a tank so batterybackupisnotrequired.However,ifrequired,thesamesolarphotovoltaicarrayscanbeusedforotherpurposessuchas street lighting if the energy isstoredinthebatteries.Inthiscase,thesubsidyisRs.90perwatt.TheGPhastosubmitnecessaryreimbursementformsalongwithaprojectreport.


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Basically,this900wattwaterpumpingsystemisverysmall,havingapumpingcapacityof5,000litresperday.Duringhotsunnydays,the5,000litrestanktakestwotothreehourstofill.

Duetothisinnovation,boththesystemandsourcehavebecomesustainable.Hence,fundsreceivedundertheNationalRuralDrinkingWaterProgramme(NRDWP)forsustainabilityareusedfortheseschemes.Makingthisschemecompulsoryforhabitationswhicharetotallydependentonhandpumpsiscurrentlybeingconsidered.

Firsttheyieldoftheborewell/tubewellischeckedwiththehelpofayieldtestingunitprovidedwiththesubmersiblepumpandgenerationset.Ifthispumptestgivestheyieldnotlessthanthedesiredlimitof2,800litresperhour,theschemeisproposed.EstimatesarepreparedbytheJuniorEngineersoftheZilaParishadforallthesecomponents.Technical sanction is accorded bytheExecutiveEngineeroftheRuralWaterSupplyDivisionworkingundertheZilaParishadandadministrativesanctionbytheGramSabha.GPsareprovidedfundingthroughGSDA.Thestategovernment’senergydepartmentmade a rate contract for the solar waterpumpingsystemsuitable

forborewellsfor900and1,800watts,whichmadeprocurementeasyfortheGP.ManpowerisavailablewiththeZilaParishadandGSDAforthesupervision.Inveryfewplaces,somecontractualengineers were engaged for the projectperiod.

Generally,aschemecanbecompletedwithinaweekiftechniquesdevelopedbyGSDAsuchaspre-fabricatedsteelstructures,pre-castRCCfoundationblocks,areused.Monitoringiscarriedoutfromtheregionalandstateleveloffices ofGSDA.

Dualpumpbasedwatersupplyschemes,eitherpoweredbyconventionalelectricityoronsolarenergy,provedtobethebesteversolutiontothedrinkingwaterproblemsofhabitationsdependentonhandpumps.

Keyfactorsofsuccessofthisschemeinclude:effortlesspumping;assuranceof24x7watersupply;noelectricitycharges;fiveyears’freemaintenancebythecontractor;securityofwaterdueto5,000litrestoragetank;arrangementofspecialwaterchamberforeasyremovalofhandpumpsformaintenancewithoutdisturbingthesubmersiblepump;availabilityofsparetimeforagricultureand

otherhouseholdchores;regularschoolattendanceofgirls;andsustainabilityofthescheme and source.

There is a high demand for this technology as initially only 66 schemeswereimplementedonconventionalenergybaseddualpumpschemes.Thenitwasreplicatedonpilotbasisin200habitations.Then1,000schemesaredemandedbytheKonkanRegion(fourdistricts)and1,500bytheNashikRegion(fivedistricts).Ofthese,threeschemeshavebeenimplementedonsolarenergybaseddualpumpschemes,139solarenergybaseddualpumpschemesweredemandedbyallthe districts of the state during 2010-11.Thestategovernmenthas issued a resolution for guidelines of these schemes on August21,2010.MEDAmadea rate contract of solar water pumpingsystemsof900and1,800wattssuitableforborewellsonly.

Lessonlearnedincludethat:anynewschemerequiresIECtobeacceptedbytheendusers;anyinnovationbythedepartmentalteammembersshouldberewardedandappreciated;everysuggestionshouldbeconsideredandifitstrengthensthescheme,shouldbeincorporated;andfieldvisitsandfeedbackare mostimportant.

Inputs by: S.V. deshpande ChiefDrillingEngineer,andR.S. cherekar, Senior Drilling Engineer,DirectorateofGroundwaterSurveysandDevelopmentAgency,Governmentof

Maharashtra,BhujalBhavan,Pune


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PeertoPeerLearning: TrainingofCommunitiesbyCommunitiesLocation:JALMITRA,Maharashtra


thatitwasdecidedtodevelopcapableVWSCsasMasterTrainersandsustaintheprocessofcapacitybuildingattheGPlevel.

Theobjectivesofinitiatingtheprogramwereto: i)preparecommunitymembersandGPcommitteestoconducttrainingforcapacitybuildingoftheotherGPsonvariousaspectsofO&Mofthewatersupplyschemes;andii)todevelopcapableGPsaskeyresourcecentresasagentsofcapacitybuildinginfutureprogramsinthewatersupplyandsanitation sector.

The strategy consists of ascertaining the training needsofthemembersofGP/Sarpanch,GramSevak,committeemembers,andSHGmemberstoassumetheirroles;anddevelopatrainingplanbasedonneedassessmentofGPsforthecommunitytounderstandtheimportanceofO&M,preventivemaintenance,regulardisinfectionofwater,adoptionofselfmonitoringmechanisms,theconceptofrationaltariffsettingofthewatertaxes,andjudicioususeofwater.

Trainingmethodologydevelopedincluded:i)adequateuseofpowerpointpresentationsandaudiovisualmediasuchasfilmclippings,shortdocumentaryfilms,roleplaytechniquetosimulatetrainingsituation;ii)aspecialshortfilmproducedin-housecoveringthemajoraspectsofO&M;andiii)atrainershandbookpreparedinsimple,easytounderstand,locallanguage

ThedistrictteamsidentifiedthetrainerGPs.GPstargetedwerethosewhichhaveexitedorareintheO&Mphase.WillingnessonthepartoftheGPstocarryoutthetrainingprocesswasalsoaprimeconsideration.ThetraineesselectedwereVWSC/GPmembers,GramSevaks,womenmembersofSHGs,andmembersoftheyouthgroups.SixtraineeswereselectedfromeachGP.

TheMaharashtraRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationprogram’sJalswarajyaProject,wasimplementedwithWorldBankassistancein3,008GPsof26districtsofthestate.ThisprojectwasbasedontheprinciplesofademanddrivenapproachandimplementationbasedonparticipativemodebytheGPsandVWSCs.

SomeoftheVWSCshavemasteredthetechniquewellandwerefoundtobeinapositiontoguidethelessdevelopedVWSCsinprojectactivities.Therefore,aninnovativeinitiativewastakentodeveloptheseVWSCsasMasterTrainerswhowillthentraintheremainingGPsinascaledupscenario.TheseMasterTrainerswerecalledJALMITRA(meaningfriendofwater).Outof3,021GPs,228VWSCsandtheir1,380memberswereselectedandtrainedasMasterTrainers.They,inturn,trained10,500membersof the community.

Astheresponsibilityofcarryingout100percentO&MofthewatersupplyschemesrestedonthecommunityandtheGP,itwasnecessarytodevisemechanismstoinvolvethesetwostakeholdersintheprocess.Capacitybuildingmechanismsweredevelopedfordistrictandvillagelevels.Atthedistrict,acapacitybuildingconsortiacarriedoutthetaskwhichalsoincludedguidingthevillageprocesses.AttheGP,supportorganizationstookupthetask.However,bothhadlimitationsanditwasalsonecessarytocontinuetheprocessbeyondtheprojectperiod.

Simultaneously,duetopoorexperienceofcapacitybuildingattheGPlevel,therewasapressingneedtofindsuitablefunctionariesforperformingthetask.UnderthenewlylaunchedNRDWP,thetaskhasassumedhugeproportions.Itwasrequiredtosustaintheprocessin28,000-oddGPsofthestatebyprovidingcredibleinstitutionsfortheprocessofcapacitybuilding.Itwasagainstthisbackground

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ThetrainingscheduledevelopedfortheMasterTrainersincluded: i)trainingofmembersofthedistrictteam;ii)actualtrainingofMasterTrainers--thecommunity/GP;iii)hands-ontraining,includingtraining of the community on the varioussubworksoftheschemeforunderstandingtheworking,defects and their remedies and thepreventivemaintenance;iv)eightto10daysofroleplayofthetrainers;andv)trainingofotherGPsbytheMasterTrainerGPs.

TopicscoveredincludedO&Mofthecomponentsofwatersupplyschemes such as water source (dugwell/borewell),pumpingmachinery,pumphouse,risingmainpipeline,storagetank(ESR/GSR),distributionpipelineindetail,disinfectionpractices

for water and mechanism for ensuringeffectivedisinfection;management of household connectionsandjudicioususeofwater;andrationaltariffsetting and issues related to the collectionofwatertaxesanditseffectiveutilization.

Thispracticeworkedwell.Thetraining sessions were carried outbythecommunityattheleveloftheGP.Factorsofsuccessare:i)thetrainercommunityhadanexperienceofactuallyimplementingO&Mactivitiesandhencehadclarityontheprocess;ii)thecommunitywhichwastrainedidentifiedthemselveswiththetrainersandpeertopeerlearningplayedalargerole;iii)hands-on training on the water supplyschemeincreasedits

effectivenessasitwas“learningbydoing”;iv)simple,nontechnicallocal language acted as a good vehicle;andv)ashortfilmonO&Mspeciallymadefortheprogramhelpedinincreasing theimpact.

The learnings until this stage can besummarizedas:i)membersof the community were willing and interested in the training processasseenfromtheaverageattendance;ii)thecommunityis ready to disseminate the knowledge gained from the projectandprepareplansforit;iii)thetrainingprocessgaveanopportunityforcrosslearningwithincommunities;andiv)toscaleuptheprocess,sustainedhand-holdingbythedistrictteamis essential.

Inputs by: n. k. Jejurka, CapacityBuildingSpecialist,ReformSupport&ProjectMonitoringUnit,1stfloor,CIDCOBhavan,CBD,Belapur,e-mail:[email protected];

andS.N.N.Raghava,WaterandSanitationSpecialist,SASDU,WorldBank

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MULTI-VILLAGESCHEMEINNOVATIONS


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PublicComplaintRedressalSystem:IncreasedConsumerVoiceandServiceProviderAccountabilityLocation: department of Water Supply and Sanitation, Punjab

ThePunjabDepartmentofWaterSupplyandSanitation(DWSS)setupauniquepubliccomplaintredressalsystemcalledShikayatNivaranKendra(SNK)inMohaliinDecember2009.Ruralconsumerscancallatollfreenumber(1800-180-2468),andlodgecomplaintsaswellasretrievethelatestupdatesthroughauniquecomplaintnumberprovidedtothemandmakerequestsforothercustomerservices.Thecallcentreisoperatedona24x7basiswiththehelpofanadvancedInteractiveVoiceResponse(IVR)system.


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TheobjectiveofSNKistoimprovetheservicedeliverysystembymonitoringO&Moftheruralwatersupplyschemesmoreefficiently.Inordertoachievethebestresultswithminimuminputsofmen,machineandmaterialwhileutilizingthelateste-governancemethodsandtechniques,itwasdecidedtosetupanindependentmonitoringsystembyoutsourcingtheworkto an to outside agency which wouldregisterthecomplaintsas well as monitor their timely redressal.Theaimwastoimproveservicedeliveryofexistingsystems,toenhanceefficiencyandfinancialsustainabilityofthewatersupplysystemoperationsbyreachingouttothebeneficiaries.

OnlineregistrationofcomplaintsthroughSNKhashelpedinachievingsustainabilityandefficiencyinservicedelivery,reduction in closure/downtime daysofwatersupplyschemes,checkonabsenteeismamonglowerranksofoperationalstaffandfieldstaffofDWSSinvillages,timebounddeliveryofservices,andhigherO&Mstandards.Allthesefactorshaveultimatelyhelpedintheavailabilityofcleanwater,improvedefficiencyandenhancedthefinancialsustainabilityoftheruralwatersupplyinfrastructureinthestateofPunjabasaresultofincreasedcustomer outreach.

Beforetheimplementationofthesystem,theconsumerhadtoeitherenterthecomplaintinthecomplaintregistermaintainedateachwatersupplyschemeorgotothedistantlylocatedofficeof

thecontrollingofficer.Theofficercheckedtheregisteredcomplaintwhenhevisitedtheparticularsite during his occasional inspection.Now,everyofficialis directly connected to the onlinecomplaintssystemthroughtelephone,e-mailandsmsimmediatelyupontheregistrationofthecomplaint.Iftheproblemisnotrectifiedwithintheprefixedredressaltime,thecomplaintisescalatedtoseniorofficialsfortheirintervention.

SNKisaneasilyaccessiblegrievanceredressalsystemwhich allows consumers to demandqualityservice,andtheirconfidenceintheruralwatersupplysystemhasgrownsinceitsinitiation.Atthesametime,theaccountabilityoftheDWSSstaffresponsibleforO&Mcanbeclearly targeted and assessed.

TomakevillagersawareaboutSNK,advertisementswereplacedinprintandelectronicmedia.Apartfromthis,thetollfreenumberwaspaintedonwallsatprominentlocationsinvillages.

InformationaboutSNKisalsoinsertedinthequarterlynewsmagazinewhichiscirculatedinprojectvillages.

Alargenumberofruralwatersupplyschemesarelocatedinremote areas where DWSS was findingitdifficulttomonitortheabsenteeismofstaffdeployedforO&M.Substantialdelayswerecausedbythefieldstaffin rectifying minor defects and leakagesinthedistributionsystemand,atsomeschemes,operationalstaffdidnotsupplywaterafteritsdisinfection.Asaresult,qualityofwatersuffered.Atmanyschemes,thetimingsfixedforthesupplyofwaterwerealsonotadheredtobytheoperationalstaff.

KeepinginviewtheshortageofstafftomonitorO&Mofruralwatersupplyschemes,itwasdecidedtosetupanindependentmonitoringsystembyoutsourcingtheworktoalocal information technology companywhichwouldregisterthecomplaintsaswellasmonitortheirtimelyredressaltoimprove

Box2:Enhancedaccountability

Forefficientoperationofthecomplaintredressalsystem,detailedinformationaboutthefieldofficerswhoarehandlingtheruralwatersupplyschemesin9,851habitations(asonMarch31,2010)hasbeenmadeavailable.E-mailidsandnamesofDivisionalOffices,mobilenumbersofExecutiveEngineers,SubDivisionalEngineersandJuniorEngineerswhoarehandlingtheruralwatersupplysystemhavebeenfedintothesoftware.Atthetimeofregistration,thenamesofofficersrelatingtothecomplaintvillagepopuponthescreenandthecomplaintisforwardedtothem through sms and e-mail for immediate redressal.


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theservicedeliveryoftheexistingsystems.

Thereare14,111habitationsinPunjab.AsonMarch31,2010,9,851habitationswereprovidedwithwatersupply,8,600withpipedwaterand1,251withhandpumps.Traditionally,watersupplyservicesareoperatedandmaintainedbytheDWSSthroughthefieldofficeslocatedatsub-divisions/Blocklevel.However,since the 73rd constitution amendment,O&Mofsinglevillagepipedwatersupplyschemesin876habitationshasbeenhandedovertoGPs.Overall,theperformanceofGPswasratedfromaveragetopoor.Presently,theGovernmentofPunjabannuallyspendsaroundRs.1,500milliononO&Mofexisting5,205watersupplyschemes(asonApril1,2010)andhaddeployedoperationalstaffofmore than12,000.

Currently,threedifferentmodelsarefollowedforO&MofwatersupplyschemesinPunjab:DWSSthroughitsownoperationalstaff;GPs;oroutsourcingtolocal contractors from the village/agency.Fortheschemesimplementedunderthestategovernment’sMediumTermProgramme(beingfundedbytheWorldBankaidedPunjabRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationProjectandthroughGovernmentsofIndiaandPunjabfundedsectorwideapproach–SWAp),O&Mofallsinglevillageschemesandintra-villageworksformulti-villageschemesisdonebyGPs/VWSCs.

Inthelongterm,theGovernmentofPunjabintendsto

handoverO&MofallcompletedwatersupplyschemestoGPs/VWSCsas,atpresent,DWSSisfacingdifficultyinoperatingandmonitoringtheexistingsystemsduetoshortageofstaff.However,toturnoverthewatersupplysysteminallhabitationsto communities will take time. DWSShasbeenprogressivelytransferringO&MmanagementresponsibilityofschemestoGPs.Inaddition,DWSSisalsoutilizingprivatesectorservicecontractsforO&Mofsingleandmulti-villageschemes.

TheoperationofSNKhasbeenoutsourced.Outsourcedservicesincludedesigningofsoftware,deploymentofoperatorsforthereceiptofcomplaintsandtheir further transmission to theconcernedofficialatanannualcostofRs.9,00,000.AservicestandardwaspreparedtoredressvarioustypesofcomplaintsandDWSSwasrestructuredsothatauthorizedpersonswhoprovideredressalare located no further than 5 to 10kilometrefromhabitations.TheJuniorEngineerisin-chargeatthelowestlevelandhasbeendelegatedadequatefinancialpowerstoredressroutinecomplaints.Fortheredressal ofmajorcomplaints,the JuniorEngineerhastoseek priorapprovalfromthecompetentauthority.

Registeredcomplaintsareforwardedtoconcernedfieldofficersthroughsmsande-mailfor immediate redressal. The information regarding the statusofvariouscomplaintsregisteredatSNKismonitored

bydepartmentalofficials.Thefollowingsystemhasbeenadopted:

• Auniquenumberisissuedtoeveryregisteredcomplaintwhich is also issued to thecomplainantduringregistration

• Timetoredresscomplaintshasalreadybeenprefixedfordifferentcategoriesofcomplaints

• ThenatureoftypicalcomplaintsisprovidedinTable5andtheconcernedofficialsareexpectedtorectify/correctthesystemwithinthisfixedtimeframeandreportbacktoSNKthroughphone/smssothatSNKcanupdatethecomplainant

• Incaseacomplaintisnotrectifiedwithinthestipulatedperiod,itisescalatedtothenextlevelseniorofficer(SuperintendingandChiefEngineer)forhisinterventionafterevery48hours

• Thecomplainantisinformedbytheoperatordeployedatthecomplaintcentreregardingredressalofthecomplaintand it is not closed till the consumerissatisfied

• Consumerscanalsocheckthestatusoftheircomplaintsthroughtheunique complaintnumberprovided to them

Though the redressal system is verysuccessful,thefollowingproblemsstillpersist:


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Inputs by: DepartmentofWaterSupplyandSanitation,Punjab,and Shyamal Sarkar,SASDU,WorldBank

Table 5: common complaints received at Snk

Comp. Complaintdescription Maximumdaysallowedfor Code redressalofcomplaints

1 Failureofwatersupplyduetoelectricalormechanical faultinthemachinery 22 Failureofwatersupplyduetoabsenceofoperator 13 Failureofwatersupplyduetolarge-scaleleakagesinpipes 24 Failureofwatersupplyduetobadqualityofwater 25 Failureofwatersupplyinsomespecificarea,maybedueto uneventopographyorsomeotherreasons 36 Otherstypesofcomplaintsmaybeduetononlayingof Redressaltimemaydiffer distributionsystemorinsufficientdischargeatsource accordingtosituation

• Attimesfieldofficersdonotprovidethestatusofthecomplaintswithintheprescribedtimeperiod

• InformationisnotprovidedintheprescribedformattoSNK

• Genuinenessofthecomplaintcannotbeascertainedintheabsenceofconsumernumber/connectionnumberwhichisrequiredtominimizereceiptoffakecomplaints

• SNKisnotprovidedimmediateinformationaboutthetransfersoftheofficers

• Schemeshandedoverto GPsareusuallynotrestored intimeduetonon-availabilityofadequatefundswith theGPs.

DWSSisprovidingwatersupplyto9,851habitations.Itisworthmentioningthat5,720outofatotalof5,827complaintshavealreadybeenattendedtothesatisfactionofthecomplainantssinceSNK’sinception(December1,2010).Adailyprogressreportpertainingtoredressalof

previouscomplaintsandaboutthereceiptofnewcomplaintsissenttothehighestlevel,thatis,Secretary,WaterSupplyandSanitation.Incaseofcomplaintsofaseriousnature,Secretary,WaterSupplyandSanitation,immediately issues instructions totheconcernedChiefEngineerforspeedyactionandtimelyredressal.Assuch,functioningofthedepartmentisassessedat thegovernmentlevelonaday-to-daybasis.

Overthelastninemonths,with the increase in awareness amongstvillagersaboutSNK,theparticipationofconsumersinregisteringcomplaintshasincreased and consumers are enthusiasticaboutgettingtheircomplaintsredressedthroughSNK.Byandlarge,consumerexperiencewithSNKhasbeengoodasconsumers’complaintsare redressed to their satisfaction andDWSStootakespreventivemeasurestoavoidthecomplaints’recurrence.

Thisexperienceshowsthataneasilyaccessiblegrievanceredressal system can change theparticipationlevelsofthebeneficiariesandincreaseaccountability.Peoplearebehavingmoreresponsiblywith the tool in their hands to askforqualityserviceandtheirconfidence in the rural water supplysystemshasincreased.TheaccountabilityoftheDWSSstaffcanbeclearlytargetedandassessed.TheGovernmentofPunjabhasdecidedtoretainSNKbyrenewingtheannualcontract with the outsourced agencyandcontinuetoprovidefundsfromitsannualnon-planbudget.Thestategovernment’sHealth,ElectricityandEducationdepartmentsarealsoexploringtheideaofprovidingasimilarservicecentreforthebenefitoftheirconsumers. AteamofPublicHealthEngineersfromWestBengalvisitedPunjabonSeptember30,2010tounderstandtheworkingofSNK.


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TheAhmednagarDistrictinwesternMaharashtraisknownforitsexcellentcultureofco-operatives.ThewesternpartofAhmednagarDistrictisacanalirrigatedarea,growingsugarcanetoaverylargeextent.OneofthemajorriversisRiverMula,withalargedam(capacity26,000millioncubicfeet)onit.

OperationandManagementofRegionalWaterSupplySchemebyJointVillageWaterSupplyCommitteeLocation: Baragaon nandur and 14 villages, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra

Thecanalfromthisdamprovideswaterforagriculture.FifteenvillagesalongthebankofMuladownstreamofthedamdevelopedsalinityinthedrinkingwatersources,asthesourceswereextractinggroundwaterfromtheriver.Theheavysalinityposedproblemsofhealth,particularlyabdominaldiseases.


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Amulti-villagewatersupplyschemeforthese15villagesusingwaterfromMulaDamwasimplementedbyMJPandthesystemisoperatedandmaintainedbytheJointVillageWaterSupplyCommitteeofthebeneficiaryvillages.

Thecommitteehasbeenoperatingthesystemforthelasteightyearsinasustainablemanner.Itprovidesgoodqualitywaterintheservicereservoirstoeachvillage,andthereafterthevillageoperatesthesystemwithinitsarea.Thewaterratesforindividualconnectionholdersaredecidedbythecommittee.TherevenueiscollectedbytheindividualGPand80percentofthecollectionistransferred to the account of the committee while 20percentisretainedbythevillage.ThismodelhascreatedacorpusofRs.113,00,000.

BeforetheimplementationoftheruralregionalwatersupplyschemeforBaragaonNandurandtheother14villages,allthelocalsourcesofthesevillagesfellwithinthesalinetrackhencemostvillagesweretankerfedformostofthedaysinayear.TheDistrictPublicHealthLaboratory,Ahmedangar,confirmedthesalinityoflocalsourcesofthesevillages.Consideringalltheseproblemsofquantityandqualityoflocalsourcesinvillages,theDistrictCo-ordinationCommitteemadearesolutiontoimplementasingleregionalpipedwatersupplyschemeforallthese14villagesandnearbyhabitations,withMulaDamasanassuredsurfacewater source. It was also decided that the scheme shouldbeimplementedbyMJP,astatelevelagencyworkinginthewatersupplyandsanitationsector.

Thetopographyoftheareaandthelocationofvillagesaswellastheadministrativelymanageable

designbytheMJPworkedtogetherinsuchawaythatthepowerrequirementisverylow;150HPpumpsaresufficientfora162,000population.ThesalinityinthedrinkingwaterbroughtallthesevillagestogetherintheformofajointcommitteeundertheleadershipofMr.ShivajiraoGade,residentofBaragaonNandur,whocontinuestobechairmanofthejointcommitteeforthelasteightyears.

Sustainability,bothphysicalandfinancial,wasaddressed.ThesourceofwaterisMulaDam,whichisclosetothesevillageswithalargestorageandgoodqualityofwater.Fromthefinancialpointofview,thedamislocatedupstreamofthesevillagesandthereforethepumpingrequirementislowcomparedtoothermulti-villageschemes.The design of the system was strategically created insuchafashionthatanindividualvillagecanbeisolatedfromthemainlineincaseofnon-paymentof water charges.

Thewatersupplysystemwascommissionedtemporarilyintheyear2000bypumpingthewaterfromMulaDamtothevillageswithouttreatment,bychlorinatinganddisinfectingthewater.Thiswaterwasfarsuperiortotheearliersalinewaterandthereforepeoplecouldfeelthechangeevenduringthetemporarilycommissioning.Theirmindsetwasthereforepreparedforthesystem.Priortocommissioningofthesystem,manyvillagerswhosoldmilkatRahuritownwouldfilltheiremptymilkcontainerswithwaterfromtheESRatRahuritownandtakeittotheirvillagesfordrinking.Oncommissioningofthescheme,thispracticehastotallystopped.

Theearlierdrinkingwaterhadtotaldissolvedsolidsrangingfrom1,230to3,020milligramperlitre(mg/l)asagainsttheacceptednormsof1,000mg/l.Thetotalhardnessrangedfrom400to960mg/lasagainstthenormsof300mg/l.Aftertheoperationofthenewsystem,thetotaldissolvedsolidsstand at344mg/landtotalhardnessis136mg/l.Asaresult,abdominaldiseaseshavereducedtoaminimum,accordingtogovernmentdispensariesandprivatedoctors.

TheoperationofthesystemwastakenoverbytheJointVillageWaterCommitteewithinthreemonthsofthetrialrunofthecompletedschemeinMay

2002.TheBlockDevelopmentOfficerand Mr.ShivajiraoGade,CommitteeChairmanalongwithMJPengineersheldmeetingsineveryvillagefromtheconstructionstageandinformedthevillagersaboutthesystemanditsbenefits.Theywerealsoinformedaboutthewatertariffsandrunningthesystemsustainablybygeneratingadequaterevenue.Inthetemporarilycommissionedstageitself,thepeoplecouldunderstandthevalueofgoodqualitywaterduetoreducedexpensesonhealth.Theywerethereforepreparedtopayforwaterandsaveonhealthexpenses.

CurrentchargesleviedareRs.800peryearperconnectionandthenumberofconnectionsare3,680.Theindividualvillagecollectsthisrevenueandpasseson80percenttothejointcommittee.Fromthisrevenue,thejointcommitteemeetstheexpensesonelectricity,chemicals,manpower,maintenanceandtestingofthewaterincludingpaymentforrawwater.TheaccountsofthejointcommitteerevealthatpresentlyithasasurplusofRs.113,00,000.

ThejointcommitteeconsistsoftheSarpanchofeachvillageandonepersonfromeachvillagenominatedbytheGramSabha,totaling30.ThejointcommitteehastheBlockDevelopmentOfficerasitssecretary.However,duetohisbusyschedule,theauthorityhasnowbeenvestedinoneoftheGramSevaksofManjrivillage.Themonthlymeetingofthecommitteetakesplaceregularlyinwhichthestatusisreviewed.Ineachreview,villagewisecomplaints,villagewisereceivablesdue,andproblemsinsystemmaintenance,monthlyexpenditure,etc.,arediscussedandbetterservicesattempted.

Thesuccessofthejointcommitteehasresultedfrom:i)drasticchangeinthequalityofthewateranditspositiveimpactonthehealthofthecitizens;ii)thecapacitybuildingoftheoperatorswhohavebeenproperlytrainedintheResearchandTrainingCentreofMJPatNashik;iii)thestrategicdesignofthesystemwhichhelpedinachievingfinancialsustainability,thankstothelocationof

thesourceatahigherelevationwhichlowersoperatingexpensesandthedistributionnetworkfromwhichadefaultervillagecanbeisolatedanddisconnected;iv)lowmanpowerrequirementandsharedresponsibilitybetweenanindividualGPforvillagewaterdistributionandcollectionofrevenueandtheJointCommitteefortheoperationofthebulksystemandprovidingwatertoeachvillagehasmadeitmanageable;andv)activeinvolvementofallvillageleadersundertheleadershipofMr.ShivajiraoGade.

Thisprojectisbeingoperatedbythejointcommitteeforthelasteightyears.TheMulaDamislargeenoughtofeedthesystem,andhasprovidedwatereverydaytoeveryvillageinthesystem.Thefinancialsituationisstrong.Everyyearthesystemcouldgeneraterevenueoverandaboveexpenditure.ThecorpusisRs.113,00,000asinMarch2010.Theannualexpenditurein2009-10wasRs.15.08lakhandthesaleofwaterbroughtinRs.18.48lakh.Otherreceiptssuchasinterestonfixeddepositsandincentivegrantsfromthestategovernmentareadditional sources of funds.

Thatgoodleadershipcanbringlike-mindedpeopletogethertorunasysteminaphysicallyandfinanciallysustainablemanneristhelessonlearntfromthisexperience.Thismanagementsystemandinstitutionalarrangementsforoperatingamulti-villagewatersupplyschemecanbesuccessfullyreplicatedinareasthathavefaceddrinkingwaterproblemsandthereforeknowthevalueofgoodqualitywater.Theproblemitselfbringsthepeopletogetherandgroomsagoodleadershipwhichcansustaintheoutcomesofaviableproject.

Thereplicabilityiscertainlyalsothereintheareaswhicharelocatedinageographicallydisadvantageouspositionandthereforerequirelargerexpenditureforbringingsafedrinkingwater.ThegovernmentneedstoprovidegrantsforO&Mforthesesystemstoassisttheprojecttobecomesustainableinthelongterm.

Inputs by: R.g. holani, ChiefEngineer,MJPRegion,Nasik;P.R. nandanware, ExecutiveEngineer,MJPWorksDivision,Sangamner;n.M. Longani, Sub-DivisionalEngineer,

MJPSub-division,Shrirampur; R.S. Thorat,Sect.Engr.,RuralWaterSupplySub-division,Rahuri,ZilaParishad,Ahemednagar;andSuryanarayan Satish,SocialDevelopmentSpecialist,WorldBank


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WATER QUALITy


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InthetribaldominatedvillageofGunderdehiofAmbagarhChowkiBlockofRajnandgaonDistrictofChhattisgarh,capacitybuildingandawarenessgenerationeffortshaveresultedindemonstratingthatcommunitiescansustaintheresponsibilityofvillagesanitationanddrinkingwatersources.This hashelpedthevillagetosustainitsstatusasa NirmalGram.

Watersecurityisnotcompletewithoutwatersafety.Providingadequateandsafewateronaregularandsustainablebasiscontinuestobeachallengewithinruralwatersupplysystems.Chemicalcontaminationofwaterrequirestechnicalmitigationmeasures.However,biologicalcontaminationiscompletely


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SustainingNirmalGramStatusLocation: gunderdehi village, Rajnandgaon district, chhattisgarh


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in the control of the users and results from the practicesthatcommunitiesobserve.

GunderdehiGPwasselectedfordevelopmentasamodelvillage,basedonfindingsofafollow-upoftheMulti-DistrictAssessmentofWaterSafety(M-DAWS)carriedoutin20GPsofMohallaandChowkiblocksofRajnandgaonDistrictinNovember2009.Asapartofthefollow-upprogram,461handpumpsand23pipedwatersourcesweresurveyedbyActionforFoodProduction(AFPRO)withUNICEF’ssupportincollaborationwiththePublicHealthEngineeringDepartment(PHED).Thefollow-upreiteratedthatbiologicalcontaminationoccurredmainlyduetohumaninducedactivitiessuchaswashing,bathing,freeaccesstoanimals,improperdisposalofwastewater,etc.Peoplewerefoundtobeunawareaboutwaterqualityissuesandshowednoconcernforkeepingtheirwatersourcesclean.Theneedofthemomentwasaninterventionfocusedonbringingaboutachangeincommunitypracticestopreventriskfactorsatthesourceaswellascreatingasenseofownershipandestablishingacommunity-basedsystemformonitoringofsources.

TheGunderdehiGPcomprisesvillageKilargondiandhasapopulationofaround1,835.Thepeopledependon15handpumpsandtwopipedwatersupplysystemsfortheirdailywatersupply.Thiswasoneofthemostvulnerablevillageswithallitssources in the medium to high risk category. The follow-upsurveyshowedthatallthesourceswerepronetoriskfactorssuchaswashingclothesand

utensilsandbathingnearthesource,inappropriatedrainageofthewastewater,freeaccesstoanimals,stagnationofwater,andpoorhandlingofwater.

TheprogramwasintroducedtothevillageleadersandfunctionariessuchastheSarpanch,thePanchayatSecretary,Anganwadiworkers,teachersandmembersfromtheNehruyuvaKendraandthewomen’sSHGs.Streetplayswereperformedtocapturetheinterestofthecommunityonissuesofenvironmentalsanitation.Source-wisemeetingswere held to generate interest and create a closer contactwiththecommunity.ThismotivatedthecommunitytomaintainitsNirmalGramstatus.

Convincedabouttheneedforcleanandsafesources,peopleimmediatelygottogethertoinitiatecorrectiveaction.WaterUserGroups(WUGs)wereformedforeverysourceandpeopletookuptheresponsibilityofmaintainingcleanwatersources.Theyrepairedthehandpumps,fencedthemusing

Box3:Cleanhabitatsandsafewaterforall

InRamparahabitationofGunderdehivillage,afteradrainwhichwassiltedforseveralyearswascleaned,theproblemofstagnantwaterisundercheck.TheproblemofwastewaterenteringthenearbyhousesofresidentssuchasSaraswatibaiistakencareof.

Similarly,whenthecisternofthepipedwatersupplysystemneartheAnganwadiwascleanedafteralmosttwoyears,peoplewereabletoaccesssafewaterfromit.Ramotinbai,anelderlywomanresidinginthevicinity,isveryhappy.Shenolongerfacestheproblemofwater-bornediseasescausedbydrinkingthewaterfromthenearbyopenwell,assafepipedwaterisavailableinthevicinityofherhome.Shehasplantedasmallkitchengardentoutilizethewastewaterfromthecisternandkeepitssurroundings clean.

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Inputs by: Rushabh hemani, UNICEF,Raipur

locallyavailablematerial,constructedplatformsandmade arrangements for drainage of waste water. Kitchengardenswerecultivatedbydivertingthewastewaterfromthehandpumps.Chokeddrainagelineswerecleanedwhichnowpreventsstagnationof water. Rules were laid down for use of the sources. Activitiessuchaswashingclothes/utensilsandbathing,etc.,arenowprohibitedandfinesfixedforbreakingtheserules.

Theseproactivestepstakenbythecommunityhaveresultedinmanybenefits.Today,thereisadrasticimprovementinthestatusofthesources.Allthesourcesthatwereearliereithermediumorhigh risk now fall under the low risk category. The watersourcesnearthetwoprimaryschoolsandtheAnganwaditoohavebeencleanedandsafewatertothechildrenensured.AccordingtotheSarpanchandothermembersofthecommunity,theincidenceofwater-bornediseaseshasgonedown.EventheAnganwadiworkerofthevillagereportsthatthenumberofdiarrhoealcasesamongchildrenbelowfiveyearsofagehasgonedown.TheeffortsofthepeoplehaveresultedinachievingMillenniumDevelopmentGoal(MDG)7ofensuringsustainableaccess to safe drinking water.

Sinceallthesourcesarewellmaintained,accesstothewaterpointhasbecomeeasierandgettingwaterfromthehandpumpis

nolongeradistastefultaskforthevillagewomen.Appropriatedrainageofwastewaterpreventsstagnationofwaterandbreedingofmosquitoes.Itisnotjustthewatersourcesthatthecommunityhascleanedup.Earlier,thearealeadingtotheAnganwadiandtheprimaryschoolalwayshadstagnantwater,causedduetoseepagefromanearbycanal.ThismadeitverydifficultforthechildrentoreachtheAnganwadiandtheschool.Italsoledtoaveryunhealthyenvironmentforthechildren.Thecommunitysortedoutthisproblembyexcavationofatemporarydrainalongthecanaltoconnecttoanearbynallahsothatseepagewatercoulddrain off easily.

TheWUGsinGunderdehicollectcontributionsasandwhenrequiredforsmallrepairworksand to meet the costs of cleaning the sources. Theymeeteveryfortnighttotakestockofthesituation and take necessary action to maintain good sanitary conditions near the sources. They reporttotheGPonceamonthtoaddresslargerissuessuchaschokeddrainagelines,disposalofsolidwaste,etc.Theformationofsource-wiseWUGshasdecentralizedtheprocesstothelowermostlevelwithinthevillage.Ithascreatedthespacefortheinvolvementofmoreusersintheentireprocess.Withalittlebitoffacilitation,thecommunityrealizedthatitiswellwithinitsown means to maintain clean water sources and adoptgoodsanitationandhygienehabitstoensuresafewaterandimprovedhealth.Forthistheyneednotdependonthegovernmentoranyotherexternalagency.ThepeopleofGunderdehihavedemonstratedthatthecommunityinevenaremote,backwardtribalvillagecantakeownershipandassumetheresponsibilityforsafewatersupplyandimprovedhealth.Itprovidesmotivationtotheothervillagesintheclusterwhereitisplannedtoupscaletheintervention.


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StatusofArsenicMitigationSchemesinWestBengalLocation: West Bengal

InWestBengal,arseniccontaminationofgroundwaterwasfirstdetectedduringtheearly1980sindifferentdistrictsadjoiningBhagirathi/Hooghlyrivers.Investigationshowedthatarsenicbeyondpermissiblelimitof0.05mg/lexistedinthegroundwater.Thearsenicproblemwasfoundtobegeogenic,i.e.,duetothepresenceofexcessivearsenicinthegeologicalformation.Groundwaterwasthemainandstaplesourceofdrinkingwaterinsuchareasduetoitseasy,inexpensiveandlocation-specificabstraction.Therefore,thedrinkingwatersupplysystemintheaffectedareasreceivedaserioussetbackowingtoarseniccontaminationofground water.

Groundwaterin79Blocks(outof341Blocksinthestate)intheDistrictsofMalda,Murshidabad,Nadia,North24Parganas,South24Parganas,Howrah,HooghlyandBardhamanisatriskofarseniccontamination.Basisthe2001Census,thepopulationoftheseblocksis166.54lakh(ofthestate’sruralpopulationof577.35lakh).Similarly,2001Censusofpopulationofurbanareasatriskofarsenic contamination in the ground water is 120lakh(outofstate’stotalurbanpopulationof224.86lakh).

InordertotacklethearsenicmenaceinWestBengal,threetypesofmitigationmeasureshavebeentakenupsofar:


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Short-term Measures

• Handpumpfittedtubewellsatdeeperaquifers

• Ringwells

Medium-term Measures

• Arsenictreatmentunitwithexistinghandpumpfittedtubewells

• Arsenicremovalplantsforexistinggroundwaterbasedpipedwatersupplyschemes

• Largediameterdeeperaquifertubewellsforexisting/newpipedwatersupplyschemes

• Newgroundwaterbasedpipedwatersupplyschemes

Long -term Measures

• Surfacewaterbasedwatersupplyschemes

Sofar,thestategovernmenthasprovidedarsenicfreepotabledrinkingwatersupplytoapopulationof106.43lakh(Census2001),whichconstitutes63.91percentofthetotalpopulationatrisk,throughvariousshort,mediumandlongtermmeasures.

Thoughvariousmeasureshavebeenadoptedinthepast,asanimmediateandintermediateintervention,surfacewaterbasedwatersupplyschemeshavebeenfoundtobetheonlypermanentsolution.

Aftersomanyyearsofexperienceinarsenicmitigation measures,itwasessentialtoreviewtheentiresituationtoimplementfuturemitigationprogramsinamorejudiciousandorganizedmanner.Somefactsabouttheefficacyofthevariousshort-andmedium-termmeasuresthathasbeenobservedovertheyearsare:

• Ringwellsarenotwellacceptedbythepeopleandpronetobacteriologicalcontamination

• Arsenictreatmentunitsattachedtothehandpumptubewellshavebeenfoundtobeveryeffectiveasanintermediateinterventionhowever,

inthelongruntheseunitshavefailedtoservethepurposeduetoO&Mandsludgedisposalproblems

• Deepaquiferreplacementtubewells,insomecases,turnedouttobeineffectiveduetoleachingofarsenictothedeeperlayerfromthetop

• Tubewellsofsomeofthegroundwaterbasedpipedwatersupplyschemes,thoughsunkindeeperarsenicfreeaquifers,showedthepresenceof arsenic in time due to leaching action

Consideringallthesefacts,amasterplanwaspreparedonfuturemitigationmeasuresinconsultationwiththeArsenicTaskForce,GovernmentofWestBengal.Themasterplanwaspreparedinordertocoverallarsenicaffectedhabitationsidentifiedonalong-termbasis.Thefollowingstrategywasadopted:

• Allarsenicaffectedvillagestobecoveredbypipedwatersupplyschemes

• Areascoveredbyexistingshort-termandmid-termmeasures such as arsenic treatment units attached handpumptubewells,replacementtubewells,etc.,tobeincludedwithinthefutureplanofaction

• Attemptstobemadetocovertheaffectedareaswithsurfacewaterwhereveravailable

• Affectedareas,whichcannotbecoveredundertheexisting/proposedsurfacewaterbasedpipedwatersupplyschemes,shouldbeservedbygroundwaterbasedpipedwatersupplyschemes

• Allproposedgroundwaterbasednewpipedwatersupplyschemesshouldhaveprovisionforanarsenicremovalplantunlessasafeaquiferwell,separatedfromthecontaminatedlayerbythickimpermeablebarrier,isavailable

• Allexistinggroundwaterbasedpipedwatersupplyschemesintheaffectedareasshouldhaveaprovisionforarsenicremovalplants,exceptwheresafeaquiferwellsseparatedfromthecontaminatedlayerbyathickimpermeablebarrierareavailable


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Inputs by: PublicHealthEngineeringDepartment,WestBengal

Table 6: Summary of the master plan

Sl. TypeofScheme No.of No.of Census Design Estimated No. Schemes Mouzas Population, Population Cost Covered 2001(lakh) (lakh) (Rs.crore)

1 Surfacewaterbased 12 1,378 35.902 63.310 1,511.78 scheme 2 Newgroundwater 338 1,479 40.412 65.850 974.32 basedschemewith/without acqiferrecharge3 Acqiferrechargeinexisting groundwaterbasedscheme 165 663 28.840 36.620 82.69 Total 515 3,520 105.154 165.780 2,568.79

Meanwhile,theGovernmentofWestBengaldecidedtoprepareanactionplanwhichaimstocoverallarsenicaffectedvillagesofWestBengalwithalongtermsolutionofpotabledrinkingwatersupply.Towardsthisend,allpublichandpumptubewells(1,32,000)inthe79arsenicaffectedblocksweretestedinlaboratorieswithactiveparticipationofthelocalGP.Safehandpumptubewellswerepaintedblue,andthecommunitywasinvolvedingeneratingawarenessamongthepeople.TubewellswerelocatedbyGlobalPositioningSystem(GPS)instrumentsandthetestresultswereplottedongeographicinformationsystem(GIS)maps.BasedontheseGISmaps,hydro-geologicalstudiesconductedbyvariousotherdepartmentsofthestategovernment,andtheefficacyofthevariousmitigationmeasuresalreadyimplementedbythegovernment,amasterplanwaspreparedtocoverallthe3,229villageswithalong-termsolution

BasedonthepresentdataonarsenicaffectedhabitationsandontherecommendationsoftheArsenicTaskForce,theGovernmentofWestBengal,pipedwatersupplyschemeshavebeenpreparedtocoverallarsenicaffectedhabitationswithalong-termsolution.

Thefollowingconsiderationshavebeenkeptinmindwhileformulatingthewatersupplyschemes:

• Anyvillagewherethereisanarsenicaffectedhabitationhasbeencoveredunderthepresentscheme.Frompreviousexperience,ithasbeen

observedthatarseniccontaminationingroundwaterisdynamicinnaturewhichspreadsbothhorizontallyandvertically,dependingonthehydro-geologicalconditionofthearea.Presently,thevillageboundaryhasbeenconsideredastheextentofhorizontalspreadofarseniccontamination

• Whileformulatingamulti-villagepipedwatersupplyscheme,non-affectedcontiguousvillageshadtobetakenwithinthecommandareaofthescheme,becauseofthenatureofarseniccontaminationingroundwater(pointabove)

• Theprovisionforanarsenicremovalplanthasbeenmadeinallthenewlyproposedgroundwaterbasedschemes

• Thetotalnumberoftheproposedschemeshasbeenarrivedatbasedonthepresentdataonarsenicaffectedhabitations

Thestategovernmentisnowpoisedtoimplementthemasterplanandithastakenambitionsstepstocoverallarsenicaffectedandsurroundingvillageswitharsenicfree,potabledrinkingwaterundertheBharatNirmanprogramby2011.Theactionplanenvisages515pipedwatersupplyschemesinordertocover3,520villagesbenefittingapopulationof165.78lakhatanestimatedcostofRs.2568.79crore.AsummaryofthemasterplanforarsenicmitigationispresentedinTable6.

Mouza: Administrative district


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KanjipaniisasmallvillagelocatedintheinteriorsofthecivicstrifeaffecteddistrictofDantewadaofChhattisgarh.Althoughthepeopleherefaceuncertaintimesduetothesituation,today,theycollectivelyowntheresponsibilityofO&Moftheirwatersources(handpumps)andensurethatwatersafetyisnotcompromised.

Dantewadaispredominantlyatribaldistrictwithmajorpartsunderthickforestcoverandmanyvillagesarelocateddeepwithintheseforests.Overthepastdecade,DantewadahasremainedattheheartofcivilconflictbetweentheMaoists

CommunityEmpowermentforEfficientHandPumpO&MLocation: kanjipani village, dantewada district, chhattisgarh

andthegovernment.Poorroadconnectivityandtheprevailingconflictmakeaccesstoandfromvillagesverychallengingandthishasresultedinaslowpaceofdevelopmentinthearea.ItwasundersuchadversecircumstancesthataninterventionforcapacitybuildingofthelocalcommunityforO&Mofhandpumpsandforimprovedsanitationandhygienepracticeswasinitiatedinagroupof30remotevillages,17fromSukmaBlockand13fromChhindgarhBlock,includingKanjipani.

TheinterventionwassupportedbytheIntegratedChildProtection

Programme(ICPP),apartnershipbetweentheTribalWelfareDepartmentandUNICEF.TheinterventionwassupportedatthefieldlevelbyateamfromAFPROandVanvasiChetnaAshram(VCA),alocalnon-governmentorganization(NGO).ItwasmodelledontheinitiativetakenupinfourcampsofKontaBlockofthedistrictforInternallyDisplacedPeople(IDPs).

Kanjipaniliesabout30kilometreaway from Sukma and has a total populationof1,000people.Thepeopledependedon13handpumpsinstalledbythePHED.However,lackofunderstanding


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ontheissuesofwaterqualityandwatersafetyhadledtoverypoorupkeepofthewatersources.Washingandbathingpracticesatthehandpumpandanimalsstraying near the drinking water sourceswerecommon.Atmanyplaces,thishadleadtowaterstagnationwithin2-3metresofthesourceandevenfoulsmell.Peoplewouldhavetocovertheirnosestoavoidtherepressivesmell.Accordingtosome,thewaterwouldeventurnbrownafterstorageforacoupleofhoursinthepot.Theincidenceofdiarrhoeal cases was high. With accesstolimitedwater,personalhygienewasalsopooramong the community.

Beforetheintervention,mostwater sources came under the highriskcategoryasperthesanitarysurveillanceresults.The women and girls faced a difficulttimeindealingwiththeseunsanitaryconditionseveryday,whilefetchingwater.Beingavillageintheinteriorsofaconflictpronearea,linkagewiththehandpumptechniciansofthePHEDwasdifficultforthepeopleofKanjipani.Asaresult,evenminorrepairsofhandpumpswouldoftentakeaverylongtimeandcauseinconveniencetothepeople.Incaseahandpumpbecameinoperable,thewomenandchildrenwouldhavetowalktothenextclosesthandpumpand fetch head loads of water to meet their household needs.

Giventhebackgroundoftheconflictandinsecurity,atthevillagelevel,thegeneralenvironmentwasoneofsuspicionandtrepidation.Hence,itwasdecidedtofirsttakeintoconfidencethePRIandotherfunctionariesofKanjipanisuchastheSarpanch,PanchayatSecretary,Anganwadiworker,andinformthemaboutthepurposeoftheintervention.They,inturn,assistedwithmobilizingthecommunityandconvincingthemtocometogetherforcollectiveaction.GramSabhasandhabitationlevelmeetingswereheldtogetthepeopletogether.ThecommunityorganizersfromVCAwereinstrumentalinestablishingarapportwiththecommunity.Duringthemeetings,peoplewereexplainedtherelationbetweensafewater,improvedsanitationpracticesandhealth,theneedforprotectingwatersourcesfromcontamination,handlingandstorageofsafedrinkingwater,importanceofhandwashing,chlorination of sources and water testingthroughfieldtestkits.Stepsformitigatingtheproblemand ensuring water safety were alsodiscussed.WUGsforeachsource were formed to create a mechanism for community ownershipandinitiateacommunity-basedmonitoringsystem.

Afterafewmeetingsforawarenessgeneration,thepeoplecouldseeforthemselvestheriskthat they were causing to their ownhealth.Oncethecommunityunderstood the need for maintaining cleanliness around thewatersources,theygottoworkimmediately.Bio-fencingwith locally sourced wooden logs was constructed around all

thehandpumpsbycommunitymembers,thusrestrictingtheentryofcattleatthesources.Assoak-pitswerenotfeasibleduetohardrockstrata,thespillagewasdivertedthroughchannelsformaking kitchen gardens. Washing andbathingnearthehandpumpswerestrictlyprohibited.Thus the community took the initiativetoaddressallthemajorrisk factors to their water sources. ThehandpumpsneartheprimaryschoolandtheAnganwaditoowerefencedandprotectedfromcontamination to make safe wateravailabletochildren.AttheAnganwadi,thewastewaterisbeingusedtodevelopakitchengarden,wherebananatreeswereplanted.ThechildrenattheAnganwadinowgetfreshfruitfrom their own garden which supplementstheirdaily nutrition needs.

MadviKosa,SarpanchofKanjipani,isproudtostate,“Everymorning,wecleanthesurroundings of the drinking water sources and on the wall nearbywewriteamessageforallstatingthatwashingandbathingisstrictlyprohibited.Everyonerespectsthismessage.Weareproudthatgraduallyourvillagehascometobeknownasa modelvillage.”

AsapartofthetrainingimpartedbyUNICEFonbasicrepairsandmaintenance for local care-takers andWUGmembers,twopersonsfromKanjipanihavealsobeentrained,onefortheO&Mofhandpumpsandtheotherforwaterqualitytesting.Followingthetraining,thehandpumptechnician,Mr.ShankerNegi,hasrepairedfourhandpumpswhich were in disuse and the community has now started using


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them.Heensuresthatallhandpumpsareingoodfunctioningmodeand,ifthereisanymajorfault,hepromptlyinformsthePHEDaboutit.Earlier,whenthehandpumpwasdefunct,basicrepairswouldsometimestakealmost a month and would cost aboutRs.500.Theabsenceofanoperablelocalhandpumpalsomeantincreasedburdenonwomenofhavingtofetchwaterfromadistanthandpump.Peoplewould also resort to using unsafe sources.However,nowwiththetrainedcare-takeravailablewithinthevillage,therepairisspeedyandcostminimal.ButkiNagiofKanjipanisays,“Earlierwefacedlotsofproblemswheneverthehandpumpbrokedown.Nowthein-villagecare-takerrepairsthehandpumpimmediatelyandwatersupplyisrestoredwithinaday.”ForthewomenofKanjipani,quickrepairsmeanhavingaregular,almostuninterruptedsupplyofwater,savingthemfromthedrudgeryofhavingtowalktoadistanthandpumpincaseofabreak-down.

Mr.BudduRamcarriesoutthe chlorination at all 13 hand pumps,teststhewaterqualityregularly,andreportstheresultstothePHEDeverythreemonths.Accordingtohim,eversincethesourceshavebeenprotectedfromcontamination and chlorination is beingdoneregularly,thewateratallhandpumpsissafefordrinkingpurposes.Withtheareaaroundthehandpumpnowbeingcleanedandmaintainedregularly,accessingthewaterpointisnolongeranunpleasanttaskforthewomen.Theyarealsoconfidentof

thequalityofthewaterthattheirfamilymembersconsume.

WUGshavebeenformedforallthesourcesandpeoplehavestartedcontributingforO&Mof their sources so that they get basicrepairsofhandpumpdonefrom their own resources leading toprovisionofsafewaterroundtheyear.TheWUGsmeetevery15daysatthehabitationlevelandmeettheGPonceeverymonthtodiscusslargerissues,ifany.

Thetraininghashelpedthecommunitytofamiliarizethemselveswiththedifferentpartsofthehandpumpandevenifmajorrepairsarerequiredinthebelowgroundhandpumpassembly,theyareabletodescribetheproblemaccuratelytotheconcernedPHEDofficials.ThustheyhavebeenempoweredtoraiseO&MissueswithPHEDatBlockandDistrictlevelsincaseofamajorrepair.Ageneralobservationhasalsobeenthatthetraininghashelpedpeopletounderstandhowtooperatethepumpproperly(e.g.,avoidingrapidpumping)andasaresultbreakdownsarealso lessfrequent.

ThepeopleofKanjipanihavecompletelyalteredthesurroundings of the their sources andhavetakenownershipofO&Mofthehandpumpsaswellasregularwaterqualitytestingtoensurewatersafety.O&Mofhandpumps,includingminortechnicalrepairsandchlorinationbythelocallevelcare-taker,isnotacommonsight.However,inKanjipani,thelocalvolunteers

havetakenupthistaskwhole-heartedly.Effectiveandefficientmanagement of their drinking watersourceshascontributedtotheMDGofsustainableaccesstosafedrinkingwatertoallbringingaboutimprovementinthehabitatofthecommunityandthelivesof women and children. In one ofthemostbackwarddistrictsofChhattisgarh,thisisamajorachievement.Frombeingmerespectatorsofthedeterioratingwatersupplysystemsoftheirvillage,thepeoplehavebecomeperformersbytakinglocalactioninmakingthevillageself-sustainedandcapableofmanagingitsownaffairs,withminimumdependenceonanyexternalagency.

WhilethisisthestoryofKanjipani,thingshaveprogressedintheother29villagestoo.Theconceptof safe water sources has gained favourwiththecommunityandpeoplehavestartedtakingprecautionstokeeptheirdrinkingwater sources clean. In almost all thevillages,source-wiseWUGshavebeenformedandtheyhaveacceptedtheresponsibilityofO&Moftheirsources,someveryactivelywhileothersstillneedhandholdingandmotivation.Kanjipanihasdemonstratedthat,inspiteofthecivilunrestandtheimpendingsenseofinsecurity,withsomecapacitybuildingandfacilitation,theusercommunitycaneffectivelymanageitswatersourcesandensureefficientservices.Thepositiveroleplayedbythecommunityhasenhanceditsself-imageandself-confidenceand,inatenseenvironment,providesinspirationforothervillagestofollow.

Inputs by: Rushabh hemani, UNICEF,Raipur


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3 References and key resources: Water Safety Plans for Rural Water Supply in India, Policy Issues and Institutional Arrangements. DDWS and WSP, 2010.Sikkim Village Water Safety Planning Training Manual and Planning Templates (RMDD and WSP, 2010)Dhara Vikash - http://sikkimsprings.org/

EnsuringGoodSafeWaterwiththeWaterSafetyPlan3

Location: Sikkim

InSikkim,thegovernmenthasintroducedacomprehensivedrinkingwaterandsanitationprogramthatincludesCommunityLedTotalSanitation(CLTS)toachieveopendefecationfree(ODF)villages,villagedrinkingWaterSafetyPlanstoensurepotablewater,andaSprings-shedDevelopmentProgram(DharaVikash)toensuresourcesustainability.Thisnotedescribesthewatersafetyplanninginitiative.Itprovideslessonsaboutthedemonstrationandimplementationapproach,policyissuesandinstitutionalarrangements,andkeysuccessfactors.

ThemainprojectpartnersweretheDepartmentofRuralManagementandDevelopment(RMDD),GovernmentofSikkim;theStateInstituteofRuralDevelopment(SIRD);alocalNGO,theSikkimDevelopmentFoundation(SDF);andtheWaterandSanitationProgram(WSP).

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4 Comptroller and Auditor General, Government of India, August 2009.

Safe drinking water is key to ensuringimprovedpublichealth.InSikkim,intheperiod2002-07,asmanyas2.77lakhpersonswereinfectedwithwaterbornediseaseslikediarrhoea,cholera and gastroenteritis out ofwhich25peoplelosttheirlives4.Thenumberofactualcases of diarrhoeal diseases is probablyevenhigherasmanycasesgounreported.Between2006and2007,RMDDwithsupportfromWSP,conducteda‘SectorAssessment’forruraldrinking water and sanitation. Subsequently,furthersupportwasrequestedforCLTSandwaterqualitymanagement.

Theobjectivesofthewatersafetyplanninginitiativewere

fourfold:i)bettermanagementofwaterqualitybypreventingcontaminationbeforeithappens;ii)itisa‘learningbydoing’mechanismtoachieveimprovedoperationalmanagement;iii)itprovidesanapproachtoprioritizingimprovementprograms(physicalandoperational)basedon health outcomes which emphasizecustomerservices;andiv)itprovidesaconcretemeansoflinking sanitation and hygiene to watersupply.

Theapproachadoptedwasbasedonan“actionresearch”methodology,whichwassubsequentlyrolledoutinthreephases:

• Phaseone(2008,initialpiloting):Initialpilotdemonstrations

wereconductedintwoGPs(KamlingandChisupani).ThiswasfollowedbyworkshopsinSouth and West Districts to get consensus and commitment to action and carry out activitymapping.ThenastateworkshopwasheldwithRMDDinGangtoktoagreeonpolicyissuesandinstitutionalarrangements

• Phasetwo(2009,scalinguptoalldistricts):AtRMDD’srequest,pilotswerethenheldineightGPsinallfourdistricts in Sikkim. Training oftrainerworkshopswereheldforSIRDfieldfacilitators,RMDDJuniorEngineersandPanchayatInspectors,andstateworkshopsondistrictplanningcoordination were held to


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orientdistrictofficials.Inaddition,supportwasprovidedtopreparewaterqualitytestingprotocolsandrecommendtrainingoptionsfordistrictlaboratorytechnicians,andSDFprovidedsupporttoRMDDforastateIECinitiative

• Phasethree(2009-10,establishingastateprogram):Inthefinalphase,aStateRuralWaterPolicywasdraftedbyRMDDandtrainingprogramsforallVWSCsrolledoutbySIRD.

InDecember2009,aStateRuralWaterPolicywasdraftedbyRMDD.Thekeypolicyissuesidentifiedwereasfollows:

• AdoptionofthedrinkingWaterSafetyPlanapproach(withtheSprings-shedDevelopmentProgramthiscanprovidecomprehensivedrinkingwatersecurity)

• Establishingnewrolesandresponsibilitiestosupportdecentralizedplanningandimplementation

• UsingWaterSafetyPlanimprovementprogramsasthebasisforinvestment

• Convergenceoffundingat districtleveltointegratewith programsthataddressprotection andconservationofdrinking

watersources,e.g.,NationalRuralEmploymentGuaranteeScheme(NREGS),BackwardRegionsGrantFund(BRGF)

• Conjunctiveuseofgroundwater,surface water and rainwater harvesting,especiallytoensurerobustnesstonaturalcalamities

Inputs by: yangchen d. Lepcha, AssistantDirector,StateInstituteofRuralDevelopment(SIRD),Karfectar,Jorethang,SouthSikkim-737121

The institutional arrangements are showninFigure5.Overallpolicyand standards are those set out atnationallevelunderthenewNRDWP.Establishingawaterqualitymanagementprogramisastateresponsibility.Districtsareresponsibleforplanningcoordinationandwaterqualitytestinglaboratories.TrainingisprovidedbySIRD.Planning,implementation,O&MandmanagementistakenupbytheGPandVWSC.

Anumberoffactorsofsuccesswereidentifiedduringtheimplementationprocess.Mostimportantistocreateownershipand commitment to action. In Sikkim,theprocesswasledbythegovernment(RMDD)andworkwascarriedoutbylocalpartners(SIRDandSDF)withtechnicalsupportfromWSP.Inaddition,itiscriticaltobuildontheexistingsituation,forexample,todovetailtoexistinggovernmentprogramsandworkwiththeexistinginstitutionalarrangements and stakeholders.

Lessons learnt regarding implementationshowthatthereareadvantagesinadoptingwatersafetyplanning,including:preventingcontaminationbeforeithappens,improvingoperationalmanagement,prioritizinginvestmentsonthebasisofpublichealthoutcomes,and linkages to hygiene and sanitation.Inaddition,byidentifying the functions requiredtosupportwatersafetyplanning,itispossibletoarticulateactivitymapping(rolesandresponsibilities),andimproveneedsbasedtrainingprograms.AlsothepreparationofWaterSafetyPlans(andassociatedoperatingplansandserviceimprovementplans)becomesatransparentmeansfordevelopingresultsbasedfinancing.Importantly,itisrecognizedthatthisrequireslong-termpoliticalcommitmenttoimplementationoftherecommendedpolicyandinstitutional framework.

Figure 5: Institutional arrangements

Verificationofdrinkingwaterquality

Awarenessraising

Baselinesurveysforwaterquality

Preparationofoperatingplans

Preparewater safetyplansCheckingthe

operationofdrinkingwatersafetyplans

Managementof watersupplysystems

Audit/reportingonmanagementofdrinkingwaterquality

Training

Districtplanningcoordination

Overallpolicyandstandards

EstablishWQMprogramme


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NauniMajhgaonGPissituatedabout15kilometre. from Solan town in Solan District ofHimachalPradesh.TheGPisaNirmalGramPanchayatwithapopulationofabout1,500persons(129families).

TheTotalSanitationCampaignwastakenupin2006andnowtheGPisfullyODF.Thewatersourceshavebeenconservedbyconstructingrainwaterharvestingtanksandundergroundtanksineveryhousehold.Watersourcesareproperlycoveredandprotectedagainstpollution.Checkdamshavebeenprovidedonnalahs under the rainwaterharvestingsystem.Tankshavebeenconstructed for collection of rain water and this water is used for irrigation.

AVillageModelforWaterSupplyandSanitationLocation: nauni Majhgaon gram Panchayat, Solan district, himachal Pradesh


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AdrainagesystemprovidesforsewagedisposalthroughouttheGP.Vermicompostunitshavebeensetupandincineratorsinstalledforwastemanagement along with the construction of waste waterpitsandthewastedisposalsystem.Dustbinshavebeenprovidedtoeveryhousehold,shopandoffice.Kitchenandbathroomwastewaterdrainshavebeenlaidforwastedisposal.Solarlights(82)havebeenprovidedforstreets.Everystreethasbeengivenaconcretefloorwithcovereddrains.

TheGPhaswonthefollowingawards:

1. National-levelNirmalGramPanchayataward (Rs.1lakh)bythethenPresidentofIndia Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam(2006-07)

2. MaharishiValmikiTotalSanitationAward (Rs.5lakh)in2008

3. StateMaharishiValmikiTotalSanitationAward(Rs.10lakh)in2009

4. FirstBimaGramPanchayatinthestate

Inputs by: hemant Tanwar


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DrinkingwaterqualityinruralareashasemergedasakeypolicyconcernfortheGovernmentofIndia.Ithasbeenestimatedthat,attheruralhouseholdlevel,accesstodrinkingwaterisashighas90percent,butmosthouseholdsstillhavetomakedowithpoorqualitywater.Bacteriologicalcontaminationduetopoorsanitaryconditionsremainsthemajorcauseofconcern,butotherwidelyreportedcausesofcontaminationinclude:(i)fluoride;(ii)arsenic;and(iii)hightotaldissolvedsolids.Intensiveuseoffertilizersandpesticidesinagriculturealsoresultsincontaminationofsurfacewaterbodies(runoff)andgroundwater(seepage).

DefluoridationofWater: APublicPrivatePartnershipInitiativeLocation: Andhra Pradesh


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AndhraPradeshisamongtheworstfluorideaffectedstatesinthecountry,withanestimated1,881habitationsreportingfluorideincidenceinadditiontoothertypesofcontaminations(physicalandbacteriological).Theincidence and intensity of water pollutionishigheramongpoorhouseholds.Provisionofsafedrinkingwaterinasustainablemanner,therefore,iscrucialforimprovedqualityoflifeintheruralareas,ingeneral,andthatofpoorhouseholds,inparticular.

Theexistingwaterpurificationprocess,undertheruralwatersupplyschemes,involvesaccessing water from surface (tank,river,canal,etc.)sources;processingitthroughSlowSandFilters(SSFs),chlorinationandpumpingtoanoverheadtankforsubsequentpipedsupplytothe community or households. Inthecaseoffluorideaffectedareasdefluoridationplantsareestablishedatthecommunityorvillagelevel.Insomeareas,domesticdefluoridationfilters5 wereprovidedtothepoorhouseholds.Despiteanumberofinitiativestowardsprovidingsafedrinking water in rural areas,waterrelatedhealthproblemsseemtopersistinasignificantway.

SomeofthereasonsidentifiedinthedeltaregionsofAndhraPradeshinclude:i)poorqualityofrawwateratsource(lackofsourcemanagement);ii)powershortagesresultinginmixingof treated and untreated water (lackofawarenessandcontroloverlocalmanagement);iii)poorcondition and maintenance of

SSFs(absenceofmanagementcapacitiesamongtheGPs);iv)scarcityoffundswiththeGPs(financial);andv)lackofstoragecapacitiesandimproperhandlingpracticesbythepooratthehouseholdlevel.

Thesituationisnodifferenteveninthecaseofdefluoridationplantsinstalledinsixdistricts.Institutional(people’sparticipation,awareness,etc.),financialandtechnicalproblemsareidentifiedasmajorreasonsforthefailure(PRED,2007).Alternativemechanismssuchasprovisionofsurfacewater,rainwaterharvestinganddistributionofhouseholddefluoridationfiltersarebeingexplored.Whiletheadoptionofhouseholddefluoridationfiltersfailedtotakeoff6,othertwomechanisms(surfacewaterprovisionandrainwaterharvesting)needstronginstitutionalbackup.

Thereisgrowingevidencethatsomeofthepublicinitiativesinvolvingprivatepartiesareeffectiveinaddressingthewaterqualityissuesintheruralareas.Duringthemid2000s,someNGOssuchasByrrajuFoundation,WaterHealthInternational,NaandiFoundation,CenterforWaterandSanitation(CWS),SmaatAqua,etc.,establishedwatertreatmentplantsindifferentpartsofthestate.TheseNGOsworkedincollaborationwithtechnologyproviderslikeWaterHealthInternationalandTATAProjectsfordevelopingtechnologies at one end and with thecommunitiesandPRIsforestablishingandtherunningthe

plantsontheotherend.Someofthetechnologiesadoptedinthestateare:

• RoofwaterharvestingmethodspromotedbybothGovernmentofAndhraPradeshandsomeNGOs

• HouseholddeflouridationmethodspromotedbysomeNGOsaswellasGovernmentofAndhraPradesh

• Privateenterpriserssellingwaterinruralareasparticularlyin coastal districts and Nalgonda

• Watertreatmentplantswithultraviolet(UV)andreverseosmosis(RO)technologywithpublicprivateparticipation

• Microfiltertechnologiespromotedbysomeoftheorganizationstothegovernmentandotheragencies

Thoughdifferenttechnologieswereadoptedbydifferentagenciestomitigatewaterqualityproblemsinthestate,watertreatmentplantswithROcoupledwithUVtechnologywhichcantreatbothchemicalandbacteriologicalcontaminationhavegainedmomentum.ThecapitalcostrangesfromRs.3.5lakhupwardsdependingonthetypeofcivilstructuresoptedbythevillages/agencies.

FundsareprovidedbydifferentagenciessuchasNGOs,communities,philanthropists,politiciansforsettingupofwatertreatmentplants.Itismadeclear

5 These filters are distributed to the households for filtering drinking water at the individual household level. 6 The active aluminium filter needs thorough cleaning every two weeks, which the households find difficult to maintain.

thatthecommunities/GPssharepartofthecapitalcostinadditiontoprovidingspaceandrawwaterfor treatment.

TheparticipationofGlobalPartnershipforOutput-BasedAssistance(GPOBA)providedassistanceworthUS$1milliontoNaandiFoundationtosetupwatertreatmentplantstoimproveaccesstosafewaterforthepoor.

Water treated in the treatment plantsissuppliedthroughjerrycansof10-20litrecapacityatfixedpoint,i.e.,nearthetreatmentplantsorsometimesdifferentsalepoints.ThewatertariffisRs.2-3fora20litrecanifsuppliedatthetreatmentplant.Ifthewaterissuppliedatthedoorstep,an

additionalchargeofRs.1-2ischargedpercantowardsthetransportationcostdependingon the distance. Some of the local unemployedyouthareengagedintransportationofwatercanstosupplyatthedoorstep.

Waterqualitytestsarecarriedoutbytheagenciesestablishedattheplants,usingprivatelaboratories,onaregularbasisandtheresultsaredisplayednearthetreatmentplantsforthepublic.

Somerapidstudiesbydifferentagencieshaverevealedthatthepenetrationlevelvariesfrom30-90percentdependingontheextentofthewaterqualityproblemsinthevillage.Itisalsoindicatedthatthereisbehavioural

change among the communities wherethewatertreatmentplantsareestablished.Inmanyvillages,peoplecarrypurifiedwatertotheworkplacesorfarmersareexpectedtoprovidepurifiedwatertothelabourforcetheyengage for any work.

Thoughthisinitiativestartedinafewvillagesin2005,currentlyitis estimated that such treatment plantshavebeenestablishedinmorethan1,000villagesinAndhraPradesh.InadditiontotheNGOs,manywomen’sSHGsandGPshavesetuptreatmentplants.TheGovernmentofAndhraPradeshhasidentifiedsomeagenciesthroughabiddingprocesstoexpandsimilarinitiativestomorevillagesthroughoutthestate.

Inputs by: Mariappa kullapa, WaterandSanitationSpecialist, WaterandSanitationProgram,e-mail:[email protected]


SOURCESUSTAINABILITy


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Indian agriculture and rural life aretodayheavilydependentongroundwater.Approximately80percentofthetotalwaterresourceswithdrawnareutilizedfor agriculture. Further lowering ofgroundwatertablescanseriously threaten India’s hard-earned food security at a time whenIndiawillneedtoproducemore food to feed its growing population.Inaddition,whilstdomestic water for drinking is

WaterHarvestingtoAugmentWaterResources:TraditionalTechnologyandCommunitiesarePartoftheSolutionLocation: Alwar district, Rajasthan

arguablythehighestpriorityuseofwater,itisactuallyaverysmallconsumer of water resources. Intheabsenceofasystemthat safeguards the meagre quantityrequiredfordrinkingwaterfirst,thereisahighriskthatbigconsumersofwaterwillsignificantlydepletethewaterresources,deprivingthedrinkingwatersectorofthesmallquantitythatpeopleneedtodrinktosurvive.

Solutions to ensure drinking watersecurity,however,exist.ThishasbeenamplydemonstratedbythesuccessfulexperienceoflocalcommunitiesinAlwarDistrictinRajasthan,supportedbytheNGOTarunBharatSangh(TBS)anditsfounderMr.RajendraSingh7.Itispossibletoharvestand augment water resources through the construction of small waterharvestingstructurescalledJohadsandtheimplementation

7 Mr. Rajendra Singh , Tarun Bharat Sangh, Tarun Ashram, Bhikampura, District Alwar, Rajasthan, India ; www.tarunbharatsangh.org ; [email protected]


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ensureswateravailabilityinwellsorboreholesusedfordrinkingwatersupplyandirrigation,evenforseveralsuccessivedroughtyears.Also,duringthedryseasonwhen the water gradually recedes in the Johad,thelandinsidetheJohad itselfbecomesavailableforcultivation.Thislandperiodicallyreceivessiltandmoisture,andthatallowscropcultivationwithout irrigation. So the Johad doesnottakeawayvaluablearablelandfromcultivation.

Afterconservation,themainissuethat surfaces is the management ofwater.TBSisacommunity-basedorganizationwhichworks on demand-side water management.ThevillagershavealsoformedanArvariSansadto frame rules of water use. Theseincludethecompensatoryagriculturalcroppattern,underwhichafarmercandevoteonly25percentofhislandtowaterintensivecropswhilethebalancemustbecultivatedwithnonwaterintensivecrops.

Rainwaterharvesting through smallstructuresrevivedfiverivers–Bhagani-Teldehe,Arvari,Jahajwali,SarsaandRuparelwhichhadbeenreducedtoseasonalrivers–benefitingsome250villagesin1995.Theareawassubsequentlydeclareda’whitezone’bythestategovernment.

Inagriculture-dominatedvillages,the change in surface water andgroundwateravailability,especiallyinwinter,hasincreasedsignificantly.SincetheRabicropisthemaincashcropinthisregion,this has translated into significant

oflocalwatergovernance.Since1985,8,600Johads havebeenbuiltin1,086villages.Thishasresultedintheriseinwaterlevelsintheshallowaquifer,increaseintheareaundersingleanddoublecrops,increaseinforestcoveranddrinkingwatersupplysecurity.

The water collected in a Johad duringmonsoonpenetratesintothesub-soil.Thisrechargesthegroundwaterandimprovesthesoilmoistureinvastareas,mostlydownstream. The ground water canbedrawnfromtraditional

openwells,builtandmaintainedbythevillagersthemselves,withoutanyinputfromoutside.Asthepercolationprocesstakessometime,dependingonthesoil,depthofwater,etc.,duringthistemporaryperiod(sometimesseveralmonths),thewaterinthe Johad is directly used for irrigation,drinkingwaterbyanimals,andotherdomesticpurposes.

Theotheradvantageofthisstructure is that it checks soil erosion,mitigatesfloods,and

economicgains.Insomevillages,farmershavediversifiedintocropssuchasonion,vegetablesandflowers(insomecases)duetoassuredwateravailability.This has led to an increase in agricultural income.

Communitiesnowenjoythebenefitsofsustainabledrinkingwatersupply,thankstotherevivaloftraditionalwaterharvestingstructureswhichhaveimprovedgroundwaterrechargeand,consequently,significantlyincreasedthewatertablelevelinallwellsandboreholes.Astudycarriedoutintheprojectareashowsthatthewatertableinwellshasincreasedby20to50feet,andthatevenafterseveredroughtsin2003and2006,waterlevelsremainedsufficientlyhightoprovideadequatewatersupplyforthepopulation.

Inputs by: christophe Prevost, SeniorWaterandSanitationSpecialist, WaterandSanitationProgram,e-mail:[email protected]

Thecostofstructuresbuilthasbeenlowinmostcases,thusallowingvillagecommunitiestobeabletomobilizetheircontributions,accountingforabout30percentofthecapitalcost.SeventypercentoftherainharvestingstructurescostlessthanUS$1,000and10percentmorethanUS$2,500.

Johads areaprimeexampleoftheingenuityofinexpensive,simple,traditionaltechnologythatisquiteremarkableintermsofrechargingground water of the semi-arid regions leading to the eradication ofruralpovertyitself,generationofmassiveruralemploymentandreduction in distress migration fromruralareastourbanareas.

Thustheissueofwater,asshowninRajasthan,isnotaboutscarcitybutaboutitscareful

useandaboutitsequitableanddistributedaccess.Theparadigmofwatermanagementwillhavetobereworked,sothatitisdesignedtoharvest,augmentanduselocalwaterresources,leadingtodrinkingwatersupplysecurityandinclusivegrowthatalllevels.Inthiscontext,traditionalcommunity-basedwater management systems pavethewayforidentificationofappropriateadaptationandmitigation strategies to address theimplicationsofclimatechange on economy and ecology. Theexemplaryintegratedwater resources management interventionsofcommunitiesinAlwarDistrictshowthepotentialadaptationandmitigationmeasuresatlocal/regionallevelhavetoaddresstheglobalchallenges of climate change impactonwaterresources.


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SourceProtectiontoEnhance MultipleUsesofDrinkingWaterLocation: khasi hills, Meghalaya

RuralcommunitiesinhillregionssuchastheNorthEastofIndiaaredependentlargelyonnaturalsourcesfordrinkingwater.However,inrecenttimes,naturalsourcessuchasspringshavebeguntodryupduetodeforestationintheupperreachesofwatersheds.Deforestationhasbeendrivenbyanumberoffactorsincludingtimbertrade,miningandcultivationofhillsslopes.UndertheInternationalFundforAgriculturalDevelopment(IFAD)sponsoredNorth-EasternRegionCommunityResourceManagementProjectforUplandAreas,SpringTrapChambers(STCs)havebeenpromotedwiththeobjectiveofprotectingnaturalsourcesofdrinkingwater.

Landsfromwherenaturalsourcesofdrinkingwater,suchassprings,originateareunderthreeformsofownershipinMeghalaya:i)individuals;ii)clans;andiii)community-basedorganizations.TheIFADprojectselectedlandsundercommunity-basedorganizationsonwhichSTCswereestablished.TheSTCsaremanagedbyNaturalResourceManagementGroups(NAMGs)whichfocusonpreservationoftheenvironment,developmentofagriculturalpotentialandaddresssocialissuessuchasrepresentationofwomenindecisionmaking.WomenarenotpartofdecisionmakingintraditionalinstitutionsintheKhasihillsthatareknownasDorbors(equivalentofvillagePanchayats).

IFADsupportedtheprojectfrom1999to2008inMeghalaya,TripuraandManipur.InMeghalaya,projectvillagesareorganizedinto19clusters;selectionofvillageclusterswasbasedoncriteriasuchasdistancefromroads,relativepoverty,presenceofcommunitycatchmentlands,etc.TwoSTCdesignshavebeendevelopedbytheprojectinconsultationwithPHEDstaff:i)designfortheplains;andii)designforhilllocations.

Protectionofdrinkingwatersourcesthatserveapopulationofapproximately7,12,500hasbeenenhancedasaresultoftheIFADproject.Existingrulesrelatingtocatchmentprotection(suchastimberfelling,banonhuntingandfirecontrol)havebeenenforcedmoreeffectively.MultipleuseofwaterfromSTCshasbeenemphasized(drinkingwater,clotheswashing,livestockrearingandkitchengardens).TheaverageannualhouseholdeconomicbenefitsderivedfromtheuseofSTCsareinrangeofRs.84,550,000inMeghalayaalone.Inadditiontoeconomicbenefitsderivedfromlivestockrearing,householdsalsoderivenon-economicbenefitsthroughenhancedfoodsecurityprovidedbykitchengardens(mustardleaves,beansandcabbage).

Inputs by: Mariappa kullapa, WaterandSanitationSpecialist, WaterandSanitationProgram,e-mail:[email protected]


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Thehydro-geologicalfeaturesofMaharashtra(93percenthardrock,variabilityinrainfall)imposelimitationsongroundwateravailability.Competingdemandsongroundwater,particularlyforagriculturalpurposesthroughindiscriminatepumping,haveledtoanunsustainablesituation,warrantinginnovativesolutionsthroughcommunitypartnerships.TheaquiferpilotsimplementedinPune,BuldhanaandAurangabadDistrictsthroughtheJalswarajyaWorldBank-assistedprojectareastepforwardinachievingsustainableaquifersthroughcommunityparticipation.

AchievingSustainableAquifersthroughCommunityParticipation,SciencesandDemandManagementLocation: Pune, Buldhana and Aurangabad districts, Maharashtra


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Theprojecttookupthechallengetoleadthepaththroughpilotingmanagementofgroundwaterataquiferlevel,bymotivatingthevillagecommunitylivingoncertaindesignatedaquifers,tothink,planandimplementsustainablegroundwatermanagementsolutions.ThiswasactivelyfacilitatedbythestateagencyGSDA,monitoredbytheDWSSReformSupportProjectManagementUnit(RSPMU)oftheGovernmentofMaharashtra.

Threeaquiferswerechosenthathadreasonablechallengesanddiversityforgroundwatermanagement,onascientificbasis,byGSDAinconsultationwiththecommunityandRSPMU.Groundwaterrechargemeasures,includingvariousmanagementoptions,wereplannedandimplementedbythecommunityinaparticipatorymannertakingintoconsiderationtheentireaquifer’srainwatercollection,run-offandstoragepotential.ThiswasguidedbythedistrictunitsofDWSS,GSDAandsupportorganizations.

Thepilotexperimenthasprovedthatthecommunityataquiferlevelcanbebroughttogetherforparticipatorygroundwatermanagement,and therefore it has emerged as a rational tool in ensuringthesustainabilityofgroundwatertomeettheneedsofthevillagecommunity.Theadditionalquantityofgroundwaterretainedintheaquifertranslatestoanavailabilityofabout1,690kilolitreofwaterperhouseholdperyear;oritcanirrigateanadditionalareaof3,900hectareperyear,inadditiontoprovidinground-the-yeardrinkingwatersecuritytothevillagers.ThepilothasalsoresultedincostsavingsofRs.88lakhperyearfortheGovernmentofMaharashtrabyavoidingtankersuppliestovillages.

SimilarpilotsarebeingimplementedinanotherWorldBank-assistedproject--MaharashtraWaterSectorImprovementProject.Basedonthelessonslearned,asofNovember2010,theGovernmentofMaharashtraisconsideringscalinguptheinitiative.

Sustainabilityofgroundwaterresourcesispossibleonlywhenthevillagecommunityunderstandsthedynamicsoftheaquiferandlearnshowtomanageit.Untiltherecentpast,avillageorblockwasconsideredasaunitfordevelopmentalactivities.However,sincetheseareonlyadministrativeunits,

theimportanceofcollectiveactionformanagementofnaturalresources,suchasgroundwater,wasignored or neglected which resulted in under- or over-utilizationofsuchresources.

Theconceptofmanaginggroundwaterresourcesataquiferlevel,throughcommunityparticipation,waspilotedforthefirsttimeinthecountryundertheJalswarajyaproject,facilitatingtheadoptionofaholisticapproachtoproblemsolving.Thepilotisinterestingbecauseof:i)itssizeanddiversity–itcoveredabout60villages,infiveaquifersintheDistrictsofPune,BuldhanaandAurangabad,inatotalareaofabout430squarekilometre,infiveriverbasins(Godavari,Purna,Bhima,ManjraandPatalganga);ii)itbroughtthecommunitytogether–AquiferWaterManagementAssociations(AWMAs)wereformedamongstthevillages,facilitatedbythedistrictteamsandGSDA;andiii)itadoptedholisticmanagementapproaches–throughsimpleandinnovativephysicalworkswithtechnicalsupportfromGSDAanddemandmanagementpracticesfacilitatedbythedistrictunits.

Maharashtrareceives85percentofitsprecipitationfromsouth-westmonsoonfromJunetoSeptember.Rainfallishighlyvariablebetweenyearsanddroughtsarerecurrent.Thereiswidevariationinthespatialdistributionofrainfallacrossthestate,rangingfrom3,000to6,000millimetreayearintheWesternGhatsto600millimetreayearintheEasternrainshadow/droughtproneareasofthestate.Groundwaterdevelopmentandmanagementisamajorchallengebecauseoftheoccurrenceofheterogeneousandcomparativelylowwateryieldinghardrockformations(basaltandgneiss)comprisingthemaingroundwaterbearinghorizon,whichoccupyabout93percentofthegeographicalareaofthestate.Inaddition,groundwatersourcesinrelativelysmallpatcheshavebeenaffectedbyseawaterencroachmentinthecoastalareas;excessivefluorideconcentrationsinNanded,yeotmalandChandrapurDistricts;andsalinityinthealluvialarea.

Cultivationofcropslikesugarcane,fruit,etc.,whichrequirelargequantitiesofwaterinthewaterscarceareas,isheavilydepletinggroundwatersources.Largenumbersofborewells/tubewellsarethemainsourceofirrigationinallthepartsofthestate.For


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about80percentofthevillages,groundwateristhemainsourcefordomesticneedsaswell.About22percentofthetotal2,316sub-watershedsarecategorizedassemi-critical,criticaloroverexploitedwithdecliningwatertabletrends.Thoughthispercentageisnotworrisomeinitself,itisaggravatedbylowrainfall,highpercentageofwaterguzzlingcommercialcropsandanalarmingandprogressivedeteriorationofgroundwaterandsoilquality.Inthiscontext,managementofgroundwaterresourcesattheaquiferlevelthroughtheinvolvementofthecommunityseemedtobethewayforward.

Theobjectiveoftheaquifermanagementpilotcomponentwastodevelopandtestapproachesforholisticandsustainablemanagementofwaterresourceswiththeinvolvementofstakeholders.Themainelementsofthestrategywere:

• Buildcapacityofstakeholdersinthepilotareaforsustainablemanagementofgroundwaterresources

• Analyzethecurrentstateofgroundwateravailabilityanduse-patternsandtheirimplicationstosourcesustainabilitywithinthepilotarea

• Provideinformationtostakeholdersongroundwateravailabilityandsensitizethemontheneedforadoptionofcommunity-centreddemandmanagementoptions

• Developandimplementasustainablegroundwateraquifermanagementmodel

Atthestatelevel,thepilotwascoordinatedbyanAquiferManagementPilotcoordinator.Thethreedistricts–Pune,BuldhanaandAurangabad–formed

DistrictTechnicalCommitteestoappraiseplansanddooverallmonitoringofprogressonbehalfofthedistrict.Toprovidefieldimplementationsupport,TechnicalSupportGroups(TSGs)wereformed,headedbyaseniorgeologist.TheAWMAsareexecutivebodiesattheaquiferlevel,formedoutofVWSCs,toworkonbehalfoftheAquiferWaterManagementSabha(AWMS)–thecollectivegroupofbeneficiariesataquiferlevel–whichmakesdecisionsinaparticipatorymanner(Table7).SupportorganizationsandtechnicalserviceproviderswerehiredtosupportAWMSs/AWMAsonanongoingbasisinplanningandimplementingtheinterventions.

Theprocesswasfacilitatedbythedistrictandstateteams.Thecommittees,withtechnicalfacilitationfromdistricts,supportorganizationsandtechnicalserviceproviders,haveanalyzedthepresentsituation,visualizedthefuturescenario,collectivelydecidedandimplementedthemeasuresthatwouldbetakentomanagethegroundwatersustainably.

Structural Measures: Low-cost structural measures (withimprovementssuggestedbyGSDA)wereimplementedtoarresttheadditionalavailablerun-off,whichotherwisewouldhavebeenwasted.Asinthemainproject,eachcommunityhastocontribute10percentagainstthecapitalcostofthesemeasures.Actually,630aquiferstrengtheningcivilworks(71percent)outofatotalof891costlessthanRs.1lakh,and228works(25percent)costbetweenRs.1and5lakh.Only33works(4percent)costmorethanRs.5lakh.Theactualcivilworksstartedduringearly2009.

Thesupply-sideinterventionshavebeenplannedtakingintoconsiderationtherun-offcalculationsinaparticularaquifer.Rainfall,acreage,numberof

Table 7: Village/aquifer level institutions

No District Numberof Numberof Numberof Numberof Aquifers VWSCs AWMSs AWMAs

1 Auangabad 03 30 03 012 Pune 01 09 01 013 Buldhana 01 20 01 01 Total 05 59 05 03


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dugwellsandgeo-morphologicalparameterswereactuallycomputedandconsideredforcalculations.Allexistingstructureshavebeenconsideredalongwiththeongoingandproposedworksunderdifferentschemesbydifferentdepartments,bringingconvergencesoastoavoidoverlapping.TherechargepotentialthatcanbeaccommodatedintheaquiferwasestimatedscientificallybyGSDA.Rechargemeasureswereplannedthroughvarioustypesoflocallyrelevantstructures,withtechnicalimprovementsbyGSDA,suchastakingintoconsiderationtheirrechargeefficiency.

Thethinkingofthecommunitywasreflectedinthenumberandtypesofrechargemeasurestakenup.Theactualsiteselectionofthecivilworkswasajointexerciseofthecommunity,supportorganizations,technicalserviceprovidersandTSG.Siteselectionwasdonebasedonthefindingsonthegroundofrecharge and discharge areas in the watersheds. Aquifergeo-hydro-topologicalfeatureswerealsoconsideredwhiledecidingthefinalmeasurestobeundertaken.Theissueofsustainabilityofgroundwater resources and the cost sharing of the interventionsproposedbythecommunitywerediscussedintheAWMSs.

demand Management option:Attheaquiferlevel,non-structuralmeasuressuchaschangeincroppingpatterns,controllingandmonitoringofgroundwaterwithdrawalshavebeenconceivedandimplemented.ThedemandmanagementwascarriedoutbytheAWMAswiththesupportofAWMSs.Communitiesweretrainedbythesupportorganizationsanddistrictteamstocarryoutthemonitoring of rainfall with rain-gauges installed in all GPs,andpreandpostmonsoonwaterbudgeting.

Althoughthepilotistoorecenttomeasureitsimpact,theevidenceisshowinginthesensethatcommunitieshavedecidedtobansugarcaneand

replaceitwithlocalcropsinPune,switchtodrips/sprinklersforhorticulturalcropinAurangabadandPune,andprohibitdrillingofnewborewells.TheyarereadyforimplementingtheGroundwaterAct.

Theinterventionsbringinadditionalgroundwaterstorageof475hectaremetreperyear,anadditionalareaof3,900hectareperyearunderirrigation,andprovideround-the-yeardrinkingwatersecuritytothevillagers.ThishasalsoresultedincostsavingsofRs.88lakhperyearfortheGovernmentofMaharashtrabyavoidingtankersuppliestovillages.ThecostofstructuralmeasuresisextremelylowatRs.1,477percapita.

Thepilotprovedtobeusefulandhasemergedasarationaltoolinensuringthesustainabilityofgroundwatertomeetvariousneedssuchasdrinking,domestic,andagricultural.Whatisinterestingandencouragingisthatthismodelcanbereplicatedelsewhere.

StrongsupportfromtheGovernmentofMaharashtraandGSDA,practicalimplementationapproachesbasedonexperiencesfromthemainprojectJalswarajya,andcontinuedsupportandfollow-upare the main factors of success.

Thepilottooktimetokick-start,withtheenergiesandresourcesofthegovernmentteamsfocusedonthemainprojectinthebeginning.Thepostofcoordinatorwasvacantforsometimeduringimplementation.Therefore,inordertoexpeditiouslyimplementsuchinterventions,dedicatedteamsarerequiredallthroughimplementation.ThepilotalsohadincludeddevelopmentoflegalandregulatoryframeworkthattheGovernmentofMaharashtracouldputinplaceforscalingupgroundwaterresourcemanagementonasustainablebasis–whichprobablycouldhavebeenanambitiousgoaltoaddressunderapilotcomponent,inretrospect.


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Table 8: Statement of benefit from the pilot work

8 Water that would have percolated to ground from run-off. Based on assessments by the GSDA.9 From item (I).10 From item (III).

No Particulars Details Districts Total Aurangabad Pune Buldhana

I Technical details

Areacoveredinsqkm 178.25 95.74 159.68 433.67 Areainhectares 1sqkm100ha 17,825 9,574 15,968 43,367 Averagerainfallinmm 630 394 795 1,819 peryear Totalrun-offinhectares Areaxrainfall 11,230 3,772 12,695 27,697 meterperyear

II groundwater availability (ha m)8

Availabilityofground 410 218 354 982 waterbeforeAWMP Additionalavailabilitydue 175 75 225 475 toAWMP Totalavailableground 585 293 579 1,457 waterafterAWMP

III net available water from run-off [based on item I above]

15%oftotalrun-off(ham) 15%ofrun-off 1,685 566 1,904 4,155 80%dependability(ham) 80%above 1,348 453 1,523 3,324 Netavailablewaterin 1ham=10,000KL 13,480,000 4,530,000 15,230,000 33,240,000 KLperyear

IV Benefits per head/family

Projectpopulationinthe Pop2001x1.5 40,371 15,626 42,238 98,235 aquiferareas Grossavailabilityofwater Totalrun-off9/ 2,782 2,414 3,006 2,819 perhead(KL)/year population Netavailabilityofwaterper Netavailable 334 290 361 338 head(KL)/year water10/population Netavailabilityofwaterper family(KL)/year 1family=5persons 1,670 1,450 1,805 1,690

V Area that can come under irrigation based on groundwater (item II)

Areaunderirrigationbefore AWMP(ha) 588 4,661 3,642 8,891 AdditionalareaafterAWMP(ha) 2,000 500 1,400 3,900 Totalarea(ha) 2,588 5,161 5,042 12,791

Contd. on next page


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No Particulars Details Districts Total Aurangabad Pune Buldhana

Contd. from previous page

VI Irrigation potential for crops (area in hectares that can be irrigated, based on groundwater (Item II)

JowarOR 900KL/year 14,978 5,033 16,922 36,933 WheatOR 1,800KL/year 7,489 2,517 8,461 18,467 CottonOR 3,300KL/year 4,085 1,373 4,615 10,073 Sugarcane 11,500KL/year 1,172 394 1,324 2,890

VII Indirect benefits (through reduction in tanker usage)11

No.oftankers/yearfor 49 54 4 107 last 5 years Expenditureontankers 37.9 3.9 2.1 43.9 (Rs.mil)inthelast5years Costsavedontankers/year 7.6 0.8 0.4 8.8 (Rs.mil)sincetheyareno longerrequiredinthe aquiferareas

11 Some of the villages in the aquifer areas were being provided with water by mobile tankers in summer.

Inputs by: deerajkumar (IAS),ProjectManager,Jalswaraja,Departmentof WaterSupplyandSanitation,GovernmentofMaharashtra,and

S.n.n. Raghava,WaterandSanitationSpecialist,SASDU,WorldBank

KL: kilo litre; ha: hectare


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Lapodialiterallymeans‘notgood’inthelocallanguage.Historically,theresidentsofthisvillagehavebeenlookeddownupon.However,Mr.LaxmanSingh’sworkonwaterconservationhasearned international recognition forthevillage.Heisnotverywellread,buthisthinkingonwaterconservationhastransformednotonlyLapodiavillage,butalsonearbyvillages.Theentirestatewassufferingfromdroughtandwatercrisis,butnotLapodia.AsmallbeginningthroughcommunityparticipationhasearnedhimtheappreciationoftheUnitedNations,theGovernmentofRajasthanandtheGovernmentofIndia.TheDheerubhaiAmbaniMemorialTrustestablishedbyReliancehasalsoawardedMr.LaxmanSinghforhisefforts.

ThestorybeganduringtheEmergency;theyoungLaxmanSingh was a student of 10th class. Whilevisitingthevillageduringschoolvacations,hewasupsetwhen he saw the condition of the village;villagerswerefightingeach other and entering into litigation.LaxmanSinghdecided

WaterConservation–AnInnovativeProcessLocation: Lapodia village, Rajasthan

todosomethingforthevillage;he started a small school with thehelpofhisfriendswherechildren from all walks of life couldstudyfree.Hisnextventurewasdiggingapond(talab) along withhisfriends.Impressed,therestofthevillagerssoonjoinedin. Since the talab,wastobeusedforirrigation,itwasdecidedthatonememberfromeachhouseholdwouldparticipateinthediggingwork.Thiseffortatwaterconservationledtoaseriesofotheractivities,asaresultofwhich there is no water crisis in Lapodiatoday.

There are three talabs in the village:AnnSagar,PhoolSagarandDevSagar.Everyyear,duringmonsoon,allthetalabs filluptothebrim.Asaresult,allhandpumpsandtubewellsarerecharged and the community getsgoodqualitywaterroundtheyear.AllnearbyvillagessufferfromproblemsofsalinityexceptLapodia.

LaxmanSingh’seffortshavepaidrichdividendsinothervillagesalso.Heisalsoworkinginthenearbyvillage,Nagar.Hiseffortin

ShailSagarvillagehassucceeded.The local talabisfulluptothebrim,thewellsarerechargedandlocalresidentsareexcited.Goodqualitywaterisavailableatameredepthof50feet.

In1987,LaxmanSinghcameupwiththeideathatpeopleshouldputasmuchwaterbackaspossibleintotheground,toensuresustainability.HedevisedanewtechniquecalledChoukaSystemforgroundwaterrecharge.Afteryearsofexperimentation,thistechniquehasnowbecomeeffective.Inthistechnique,smallrectangulardykeswithentryandexitpoints,are constructed. The rectangular dykesarecalledChoukas.TheslopeinsidetheChoukaissuchthatamaximumof9inchesofwaterstandsinit,whichensuresmoisture in the soil round the year. When after years of hard work,peoplesawtheresultsoftheChoukaSystem,theyrealizedthatalltheeffortwasworthit.ThetreesinsidetheChoukagrowveryfast,thegroundwater is recharged and there is no dearth of water for drinking purposes.TheChoukasare


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constructedinpasturelandandpeoplehavevoluntarilyremovedencroachment from thousand of acresofpastureland.Theyhavesoweddifferentvarietiesofgrasswhichhasresultedinadequatefodderproductionforanimals.Evenduringdrought,Lapodiaproducesmilkworthlakhsofrupees.

Today,thousandsofpeoplehavejoinedLaxmanSinghinhiswork.RamKaranGujarhasplanted2,000treesspendingfromhisownpocket,motivatedbyLaxmanSingh’swork.Allencroachmentshavebeenvoluntarilyremovedbythepeoplefromcatchmentareas of talabs.Everyyear,theGramVikasNavyuvakMandalofLapodiaheadedbyLaxmanSingh holds a pad-yatra (rally)to create awareness on water conservation.In1994,theGovernmentofRajasthanrecognizedLaxmanSingh’seffortsandprovidedfinancialsupport.TheChoukaSystemandLaxmanSinghhavereceivedaccoladesandappreciationfromtheGovernmentsofRajasthanand India as well as eminent environmentalexpertsandprivateorganizations.LaxmanSingh’sexperimentwithcropseeds and organic agriculture arecontinuing.Hehasalsodevelopedawildlifesanctuarynearthevillage,andthevillagershavetakenanoathtoprotectanimal life.

What is the chouka Technique

GramVikasNavyuvakMandal,Lapodia,withthehelpofseveralinternationalorganizations

developedtheChoukaSystemforwaterconversation,todeveloppastureland.Thetechnologywasfirstemployedinasmallareaandresultswerestudied.TheChoukaSystemwasscaledup,afterconfirmationofpositiveresults.ThesalientfeaturesofChoukaSystemare:

• Itisapurely indigenous and naturaltechniqueforpasturelanddevelopment

• Themaximumbenefitwithminimumexpenditureisaccrued

• Moistureisretainedintheentirepastureland

• Rainwaterisharvestedforadefiniteperiod

• Waterisstoredin10percentarea for ground water recharge

• Itisagoodtechniqueforfodderproduction

• A9inchwatercolumnismaintainedintheChoukafor10 to 30 days

• AllChoukasareinterconnectedandwaterflowsfromonetoanother and ultimately the overflowfallsintoatalab

• Localfloraisgrowninthepastureland

• Theentirepasturelandisconvertedintodifferentzonesof moisture content

• Differentvarietiesof fodder aregrownbasedondifferentmoisture contents

chouka construction

• Firstofall,pasturelandismeasured

• TheconfigurationofChoukasisfinalizedbasedonslopeofpasturelandanddirectionofflowofwater.Theoverflowshouldfallintoarivuletorapond.

• AlayoutdrawingofChoukasisprepared

• MicroplanninginsidetheChoukaisdone

• ThemainwalloftheChoukaisconstructedbetweentwohighestpointsonthedownstreamsidetoarrestflowof water

• Theheightofthewallis0.5to0.75 metre. The walls are made upoflocalsandexcavatedfrominsideChoukas

• Inthemainwall,asmallpassageforexitofwaterisprovided

• ThelengthandbreadthoftheChoukaisconstructedinsuch a manner that the height ofwaterwithintheChoukashouldnotincreasebeyond 9 inches

• Arivuletorpondisconstructed at the end of thepasturelandwheretheoverflowfromtheChoukasiscollected

• Localbabool, ker, khejari seeds aresprinkledontheChoukawalls

• DifferentvarietiesofgrassaregrowninsidetheChoukas

Impact of chouka System on Pasture Land

• AsaresultoftheChoukaSystem,socialmobilizationhastakenplaceandencroachmentsremovedfrompastureland

• DuetoconstructionoftheChoukas,theentirepasturelandisdividedintozonesofdifferentmoisturecontent

• Duetoretentionofrainwaterin10percentofthearea,anincreaseingroundwaterlevelintheentirevillagehas takenplace

Inputs by: CommunicationandCapacityDevelopmentUnit,Rajasthan


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12 Reference : Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater System Project –Project Document http://www.apfamgs.org/Default.aspxEvaluation of FAO cooperation with India, Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems (APFAMGS - GCP/IND/175/NE http://www.apfamgs.org/upload/PDF/GCPIND175NET-APFAMGS-eva-final.pdfTechnology and knowledge for gender equity and justice http://www.apfamgs.org/upload/PDF/CP532006_40031.pdfThe Trail of Change, Villagers View point on APFAMGS intervention, September-2006 http://www.apfamgs.org/upload/pdf/RE502006_40035.pdfDeep Wells and Prudence, Towards Pragmatic Action for addressing groundwater Overexploitation in India. http://www.apfamgs.org/upload/PDF/world_bank_rep.pdf

Realizingthecriticallinkbetweenfoodproductionandgroundwateruse,anumberofNGOs,research institutes and national andinternationalprogramshavebeenworkingonoptionalparadigmsthatwouldencourageandsensitizefarmerstoward

moderating their water demand. Thisinvolveseducationandawarenessbuildingaroundkeyaspectsofgroundwater,itsutilizationandconservation.Theprocessincludesactiveinvolvementoflocalcommunitiesindatacollection,capacity

buildingandimprovedmanagementoftheavailableground water resources.

AndhraPradeshFarmerManagedGroundwaterSystems12(APFAMGS)projecthasdemonstratedthatanenabling

CommunityManagedDemand-side GroundWaterManagementLocation: Andhra Pradesh


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strategycouldsupportfarmersinreflectingonkeyissuesandhelpthemgenerateappropriateknowledgetobeusedinregulating ground water use. Reflectionandselfregulationencourageopportunitiesforinternalizationandsustainability.

InsevendroughtpronedistrictsofAndhraPradesh,farmersresidingin638habitations,spreadover400GPs,havevoluntarilytakenanumberofstepstoreducegroundwaterpumpingtoaddresstheproblemofgroundwaterdepletion.TheAPFAMGSprojectisapartnershipwithfarmersforimplementingtheDemandSideGroundwaterManagement(DSMG)concept.

Animportantcomponentoftheprojecthasbeenself-evolvinginclusiveinstitutions,whichanchortheprogramandactivitiesatthegroundlevel.GroundwaterMonitoringCommittees(GMCs)atthehabitationlevelandtheirfederationHydrologicalUnitNetworks(HUNs)offeraninstitutionalplatformtothefarmerstocollectivelyreflect,planandimplementtheprograms.Theparticipationoffarmershasnotbeeninaphysicalsensealone,ithasacknowledgedandvaluedtheircreativepotentialandknowledgeandhas facilitated their knowledge andinnovationsurge.Thishasfollowed a careful and consistent processoffacilitationincludinghelpingthefarmersinassessing,analyzingandplanningdifferentactivitiesrelatedtogroundwaterandlivelihoods–sustainableagriculture.Adoptinganexperientiallearningprocess,

usinganon-formalpedagogicalformat,hashelpedthefarmersappreciatethescientificnuancesofgroundwaterandsustainableagriculture.Animportantimpacthasbeentheappreciationoffarmers’knowledgebythestateagencieswhichhavereciprocatedwithphysical,financialandtechnologicalsupport.TheAPFAMGSprojectisimplementedbynineNGOscoming together as a network underanodalNGO,supportedbytechnicalconsultantsofferingnecessary technical facilitation. Theprominentanchorsarehabitationlevelinstitutions–GMCsandtheaquiferlevelfederationHUN.ThelocalinstitutionsworkcloselywithPRIsandotherSHGs,andcommunitybasedorganizationsarecoalitionpartnersoftheprojectforpromotingprojectobjectives.

APFAMGSisaninitiativedesignedtostimulatefarmers’innovationin the assessment and analysis ofgroundwater,andfinetuneinitiativestooptimizewaterbasedlivelihoods.Theknowledgehasbeenusedtohelpthefarmersandothervulnerablecommunities deal with the depletinggroundwateranditseffectonagriculture.Theprojectuses community institutions to takeresponsibilityforassessinggroundwateravailabilityforamicrounit,andusetheunderstandingtoplangroundwaterresourcessustainablyfortheiragricultureandlivelihoodpattern.Theproject,sponsoredbytheFoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO),has:i)offeredlocal solutions in managing groundwaterdistress;ii)reduced

groundwaterpumpingalongwith an increase in wealth creation;iii)enhancedrechargeinitiativesandconsequentriseinwaterlevel;andiv)diversifiedthecroppingsystemmatchingwithavailabilityofwater.

TheAPFAMGSmodelworksonthetheoryofbehavioralchangefacilitated through new learnings leadingtonewreflexes.Theprojecthastakenadvantageofthechangingdemographicprofileofthecountrytotapthelargenumberofyoungadults(menandwomen)withhigherlevelsofaspirationstoworkcollectivelyforacquiringnewlearnings.Thestrategyhasbeentobringupfronttheissuesrelatedtogroundwaterdistress,engagethematanintellectualplaneandchallenge them to look for local solutionstoensuresustainabilityof the ground water resource.

Forthefirsttime,theissueofwaterisnotcompartmentalizedonthebasisofindividualfarmers,habitations,villages,butlookedatcomprehensivelyatthemicro-basinlevelwithallcompeting


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recording,classification,documentation,analysis,exchangeofinformation,makinghypothesis,testingthehypothesisinthefarmers’fields,furtherexperimentsandobservations.Overall,theefforthasbeentoensurethatthereisnoattempttodilutethesciencejustbecauseitishandledbythecommunity.The transfer of information happensthroughface-to-facecommunicationusingvoice,bodylanguagesupportedbytraining

aids.Muchofthelearningmakesuseofexplicitknowledgeintotheir understanding of the world-view.Complementarytothisformoflearningarethefieldvisits,short-termandlong-termexperiments,fieldworkshopsandexhibitionsofthemodelsfromtheneighbouringareas.

Institutionshavebeenpromotedastheidealplatformtolookbeyondindividualconcernsandthusexcludeselfishinterestofafew.Genuineinstitutionsrepresentthecollectiveviewswhiledissentingvoicesarealsodulyacknowledged.Amultilayerinclusiveinstitutionthatisverticallyintegratedhasbeenbuiltintotheproject.TheGMCshasbeenconceivedasavillagelevelinstitutionofthemenandwomenfarmers.SeveralGMCswithinagivenhydrologicalboundaryjointogethertoformaHUN.Theinstitutionsprovideaplatformforfreewheelingdiscussions,receivelocalsolutionsthatareoriginal,notboundbyanyconventions,asthey say rooted to the soil.

Aspartofknowledgebuilding,locally generated data are used toraisethelevelofawarenesson common issues related to ground water distress at individualfarmlevelaswellasonthehabitationanddrainageunitlevel.Thistriggersaprocessofinternalizationofthedataandsets into motion discussions at variouslevelsandformationofopinionsonthecauseandtheeffects.Theimpact of ground waterdevelopmentgatheredas

interestsbroughttothetableandtheneedsprioritizedlogically.Nooutsidesolutionsarepresented,butlocalhomegrownideasdebated,consideredandnewinputsprovidedlargelythroughfieldexposuresandinteractionwiththosewhohave adoptedthem.

Theknowledge,capacityandskillsofthefarmersarebuiltaroundseveralstepsincludingobservations,measurements,


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dataaredeliberatedroundtheyearculminatinginaCropWaterBudgeting(CWB)workshoppriortothecroppingseasontoassessthebestcropcombinationthatcanbetakenupintheentiremicrobasinlevel.Basedontheunderstanding,thefarmersadoptsuitablemodificationsintheiragriculturalpracticesthatcanleadtosignificantreductionsinannual ground water use.

Thedecisiononcropchangesisvoluntaryandnoadviceisprovidedbytheproject.Theemphasisisonimprovingthewateruseefficiency(lesswaterformoreproductivity).Theprojectdoesnotadvocatechangesincropsbeinggrowntraditionallyorforcommercialgain.Theprojectrespectsthefarmer’straditionalknowledgeandwisdomtobeabletotakemostappropriatedecisions.Institutionsactaspressuregroupstoadvocatechangeincropping,useofsustainableagriculturalpracticesandwatersavingtechnologies.Thegovernmentalongwiththebanksprovidesthenecessarysupportforinvestmentson technologies related to watersavings.

A160percentchangeinthecroppingsystemisalready

beingwitnessed.Initially,thenumberofcropsintheprojectareawasonly14andnowhasbeendiversifiedto32.Cropdiversificationhasbeenlargelyinfavouroflowwaterconsumingandlowriskcrops.Highwaterconsumingcropslikepaddy,sugarcane,banana,turmeric,andmulberrycontinuetobegrownbutwithsubstantiallyreducedirrigation(rangingfrom20-60percent).Foodsecurityandimprovednutritionhaveneverbeencompromisedwhilechangingthecroppingsystems.Thefarmershaveworkedoutanumberofwaystoreducegroundwaterpumpingthroughchangesincropping,cropdiversification,improvedwateruseefficiency,improvedpumpefficiency,regulated construction of new wellsandrevivedabandonedwells as recharge structures. Thus thenewapproachaddressesthecomplexissueofgroundwateroverpumpingbyarticulatingthecommunity’s interests while not targetingindividualfarmers.

Governanceasdictatedbylocalinstitutionshashelpedachievesustainablegroundwaterdevelopmentbyavoidinglocalconflictsandterritorialdissensions.The most critical factor of governanceistheknowledgetounderstandandappreciatetheprobleminallitscomplexityandcreatetherequiredownership/responsibilityintheattitudeofthedifferentstakeholders.

TheAPFAMGSprojectcontinuestoinspirefundingagencies,governmentsandagro-basedindustriestoadoptthe

institution-led,knowledge-drivenapproachesintheareaofnaturalresource management.

Institutionsundertheprojecthavecontributedsignificantlyininitiatingpracticesforsustainablemanagement of ground water bytreatinggroundwaterasacommonpropertyresource.Institutionshaveensuredgroundwaterusersmakeeffortstounderstand the nature of ground wateroccurrence,cycle,andlimitationsinitsavailability.

Institutionspromotedfarmersindatacollection(rainfall,waterlevels,wellyields),calculatingground water recharge from monsoonalrainfall,andestimating their annual water usebasedonplannedcroppingpatterns,therebybuildingtheirunderstanding of the dynamics and status of ground water in the localaquifers.

Farmer data collection also facilitates access to information aboutwater-savingtechniques,improvedagriculturalpractices,and ways to regulate and manage farmers’ own demand for water. Theprojectdoesnotofferanyincentivesintheformofcashorsubsidiestothefarmers:thehypothesisisthataccesstoscientificdataandknowledgehasenabledfarmerstoworkunitedlyinmakingappropriatechoices and decisions regarding agriculturalpracticesanduseofground water resources.

Independentprojectevaluationindicatesthat,inamajorityoftheprojectareas,theinterventions


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expectedresultswerelargelyachieved.Farmersunderstandthe seasonal occurrence and distributionofgroundwaterintheirhabitationsandinhydrological units as a whole andareabletoestimateseasonalrecharge,draftandbalance.Farmersarecapableofcollecting and recording rainfall and associated ground water data.Theyhavemasteredtheconceptofgroundwaterasacommonpropertyresourceand are willing to manage it for thecollectivebenefit.Thiswasachievedthroughstrongfocusandinvestmentoncapacitybuildingandthroughtheprocessofdemystificationofscience,withoutcompromisingonthebasicscientificprinciplesofsustainablemanagement.Thishadastrongempoweringeffectonparticipants.

Theprojectworksonthesupplyside of the ground water resource throughartificialgroundwaterrechargestructurestoimprovegroundwateravailability.Themodelcanbeusefullyreplicatedinsimilarenvironmentalconditionsunderanytypeofintervention.FarmerWaterSchools(FWSs)areaplatformforgroundwaterfarmers,menandwomen,thatfacilitateexperientiallearningofdifferentcultivationtechniquesandcroppingpatternslinkedtotheuseofthe ground water resource. This wasachievedthroughintensivecapacitybuildingandprogressivedevelopmentoftheFarmerFieldSchool(FFS)conceptintotheFWS,buildingontheprinciplesofnon formal education.

7percenthavewitnessedanincrease in ground water draft duringthisperiod.Thisimpactisunprecedented,intermsofreductionsactuallybeingrealizedingroundwaterdraft,andintermsofthegeographicextentofthisimpact,coveringdozensofaquifers,hundredsofcommunities,andapproximateoutreach of one million farmers.

APFAMGShassucceededinestablishingstrongcommunityprocessesbyformallyengagingall ground water users and using traditionalandwell-establishedvehiclesofcommunitymobilization.Theprojectisrootedinastrongparticipatory,capacity-building,andgendersensitiveapproach.AnothersignificantdesignfeatureofAPFAMGSisthatit engages the farmers around a crucial element of information thatisvitalforplanningagriculturaloperations.

Theprojecthasbeensuccessfulin meeting its challenges and

havesucceededinbuildingalinkbetweenwateravailabilityand water use for agriculture. Thecoremessageoftheproject,thatgroundwaterabstractionoverthelongtermneedstobealignedwithwateravailability,istakinghold.Thisissuggestedbytheemergingpositivecorrelationbetweenwateravailabilityandwaterusein48outofthe58projecthydrologicalunits.

APFAMGSprojectdesigndoesnotcallforsacrificesinprofitabilitytoreducewateruse.Surveyresultsshowthatprojectareafarmershaveconsistentlyimprovedtheirprofitability,withthenetvalueofoutputsnearlydoublingduringtheprojectperiod,withinferiorand more erratic results in similar non-projectareas.Intermsofcumulativewaterabstractions,42percentofthehydrologicalunitshaveconsistentlyreducedthegroundwaterdraftoverthethreeyearsofprojectoperation,while51percenthavereducedthedraftintermittently,andonly


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AkeyelementintheFWSistheCWBsessionatthestartoftheRabiseason,particularlyasadecision-making tool for farm familiestoadoptalternativeagriculturalpractices,suitingtheavailabilityofgroundwater.ThisinnovationtotheFFSapproachis a key decision-making tool also atcommunitylevelandcanbeconsideredanimportantelementin increased social and natural capital.Itisalsoimportantinlightoffutureexpansionandup-scalingoftheFWSapproach.

Inaddition,trainingonlowexternalinputagriculture,inputsfromthebio-agentsproductioncentre,documentationofbestagriculturalpracticesandFarmerTrainingTeams,allledtoreductionofexternalinputs,withbeneficialconsequencesontheenvironmentandhealthoftheruralpopulation.

The local institutions and platformssetupforcommon

Inputs by: dr. k.A.S. Mani, e-mail:[email protected]:Mr. Paul Raja Rao, BharathiIntegrated

RuralDevelopmentSociety,Nandyal,Allagadda-518543,e-mail:[email protected]

decision-makingatthelevelofthehydrologicalunitarethrivingbodiesthatcanproveverybeneficialfortheirmembersandthewiderpopulation.Thereisgoodevidencethatsocialcapitalwascreatedanddevelopedatthedifferentlevels.

Prospectsforenvironmental,social,institutionalandtechnicalsustainabilityoftheproject’sachievementsandresultsarehigh.Economicsustainabilityoftheinnovationsproposedwilldepend,toalargeextent,onnationalandinternational food and energy pricepolicies;nevertheless,farmersshouldbeequippedwith knowledge and decision making tools that allow them to copewithexternalthreatstoagoodextent.

Finally,theAPFAMGSapproachoffersagoodparadigmforfunding agencies and federal/

state agencies working in the area of ground water management. Localgovernanceofgroundwaterbythegroundwaterusersthemselvesbringstogetherallthedifferentstakeholders,strengthenslocalinstitutions,makes the hydro-geological informationfullyaccessible,considerablyreducesthetransactioncosts,promotestheconceptofdemandsidemanagementasaviableoption,simplifiesthetasksofgovernmentdepartmentsinplayingthefacilitationroleofprovidingknowledge,skillsandcapacities.Experienceshowsthatpromotinglocal ground water regulation isnotdifficult,neithercostlynorsensitiveandcanreachthenecessary scale in the shortest time.TheAPFAMGSconceptcanbesafelyadoptedforsustainablemanagement of ground water indifferentpartsoftheworldsubjectedtolargescaleover-exploitation.


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RenovationofTraditionalWaterBodies(Oorani)toSustainAccesstoDrinkingWaterforRuralCommunitiesLocation: Tamil nadu

TheGovernmentofTamilNaduhasbeengivinggreatimportancetotheruraldrinkingwatersectorbyallocatingsubstantialfundsandotherresourcesaimedatimprovedaccesstosafeandsustainabledrinkingwatersupplytoruralcommunities.Mostruraldrinkingwatersupplyschemesaregroundwaterbasedandgroundwaterbodiesareunderseverestressduetoover-exploitation.Also,thesustainabilityoftheschemesareatstakeduetosourcefailure/depletionofsources,poorO&M,non-availabilityofthetimelypowersupplyforpumping,andwaterqualityproblemslikesalinity,fluoride,etc.

Mosttraditionalwatersupplysystemshavebeenabandoned/areunattendedbythelocalcommunitiesforvariousreasonsaftertheemergenceofpumpingtechnologyandruralelectrification.Theincreaseindemandforwaterbythedifferentsectorslikeirrigation,industryandurbanizationisthemajorchallengetobeaddressedimmediately.TheGovernmentofTamilNaduhasgivenprioritytorainwaterharvestingandmadeitmandatoryintheentirestate.Rejuvenationoftanks,pondsandotherwaterbodieswasundertakenbythegovernmentundervariousschemessuchasemploymentgeneration,anddroughtreliefprogramstocapturerainwaterwhereveritfalls,anduseitlocally.


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Undertheaegisofrainwaterharvestingthroughrejuvenationoftraditionalwaterbodies,theDepartmentofRuralDevelopment,GovernmentofTamilNadu,during2002-03,evolvedastrategyforsupplementingwaterfordrinkingandotherneedsoftheruralcommunitiesthroughinitiatingapilotprojectondevelopingtheOoranis(traditionalvillageponds)withappropriatetechnicalinterventionsandcommunityaction.TheprogramwasdesignedinpartnershipwithotherprofessionalorganizationconsistingofNGOs,technicalinstitutionsandthecommunities.Partnershaveclearrolesandresponsibilitiesbasedontheirexpertise.Themajorstakeholders/partnersareshowninFigure6.

TheDepartmentofRuralDevelopmentisthenodaldepartmentatthestatelevel,responsibleforprovidingfunds,policysupport,andpreparationofestimatesthroughfieldlevelofficialsinconsultationwith,andbasedontheinputsprovidedby,theotherpartners/experts,overallmonitoringandcoordination.TheDhanFoundationisresponsiblefor selection of Ooranis basedonsetprinciples,communityconsultationandmobilization,securingcommunitycontributions/sharethroughcash/labour/materials,capacitybuilding,documentationoflessons,follow-uponO&M,andfeedinglessonsforreplication.TheCentreforWaterResources,AnnaUniversity,isresponsibleforhydraulicstudies,catchmentsassessmentsandtechnicaladvicerelatedtowaterresources,treatments,etc.

TheCentreforEnvironmentalStudiesisresponsiblefortechnicaladvicerelatedtoenvironmentalaspectsincludingpollutioncontrolmeasures,waterqualityissuesincludingwaterqualitymonitoring.CommunitiesandGPsareresponsibleforextendingfullsupporttotheprojectincludingthecapitalcostsharingof15percentthroughcash/labour/material,participationinplanning,implementationandO&M.

Tooverseethepilotproject,theRuralDevelopmentDepartment,GovernmentofTamilNadu,formedataskforceconsistingofrepresentativesfromthemajorpartnerorganizations.Initially,10Ooranis fromKancheepuram(lowgroundwater)andRamanathapuram(salineeffecteddistrict)were

selectedforthepilot.Detailedplanningwasundertakenbyallpartnersbeforetakinguptheactualrenovationofthewaterbodies.

Majorstepsinvolvedintheentireprocessare:i)formationofthetaskforce;ii)identificationoftheOoranisforrejuvenation;iii)planningincludingthesurveys/research/baselinestudiesbythegroupofexperts;iv)communitymobilization,consultation,capacitybuildingandawarenesscreation;v)designing and cost estimations and resource/fund mobilization;vi)implementationandO&M;v)andmonitoring/follow-upanddocumentation.

ThemaintechnicalaspectsinvolvedinthedevelopmentoftheOoranis are:

• ThecatchmentareaoftheOorani isidentifiedandcheckedforsufficientrun-off

• TheOorani isdeepened/desiltedbyscoopingthetopsoiltoimprovethestoragecapacity

• TheinletchannelthatallowswatertotheexistingOorani iscleanedup,therebyavoidinganysiltdepositcarriedtotheOorani

• ThefiltermediaarrangementusingslowsandfiltersisinstalledinsidetheOorani tofilterturbidwater

• AhandpumpisinstalledoutsidetheOorani for the community to fetch clear drinking water

• Fencingisprovidedtoavoidpeopledirectlyenteringandalsofromlocalpollution

• Thefiltermediaprovidedensuresgoodqualityofdrinking water

Figure 6: Major stakeholders/partners

RDD,GovernmentofTamilNadu

Communities/GPs

AnnaUniversity

DHAN Foundation

RejuvenationofallOoranisinthepilotprojectiscompletedandhandedovertothecommunitiesforO&M.Theprojecthasensuredcleanwaterfor the communities throughout the year with minimumO&Mcostbeingbornecompletelybythecommunities.Theprojectcarriesoutthemonitoringofwaterquality,inflowofwaterinthepond,lossofwaterincludingevaporationlosses,seepagelossesandhumanconsumption.

Communities/GPsfromdifferentdistrictshavestarted making demands for the scheme. The projectbuildspartnershipsandownershipamong the communities. In addition to increased accesstosustainablewatersupply,theprojectprovidesemploymentopportunitiesforthelocalcommunitiesduringitsimplementation

TheGovernmentofTamilNaduhasexpandedtheprogramofdevelopingOoranis through the Tamil NaduWaterSupplyandDrainage(TWAD)Board.Theseactivitiesareundertaken/executedunderdifferentprogramsuchasthePradhanMantriGramodayayojana,theAcceleratedRuralWaterSupplyProgramme(ARWSP).TheNationalBankforAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(NABARD)hasalsoprovidedfinancialassistance.Sofar,511Ooranishavebeencompleted.TheOoranis are supplementarytotheexistingdrinkingwatersourcesandserveasstandalonesources.Testsindicatethatqualityofwater,byandlarge,isofgoodquality.TheGovernmentofTamilNaduhasdecidedtoexpandtheprogramtotheentirestatewhereverwaterqualityandquantityproblems aresevere.

Inputs by: dr. k. Sridhar, TWADBoard,TamilNaduand Mariappa kullapa,WaterandSanitationSpecialist,WaterandSanitationProgram,

e-mail:[email protected]


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WASTEWATERMANAGEMENT


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CombiningWaterSupplyandSewerageandRecyclingofWasteWaterforIrrigation:AnInterestingExampleLocation: hulakoti village, gagad district, karnataka

UndertheJalNirmalproject,HulakotiistheonlyvillageinKarnatakathathasadoptedanunderground drainage sewerage system along with the water supplyscheme.Thepopulationofthevillageisabout12,000with2,478householdsand1,290waterconnections,25standposts,and1,600sewerageconnections.Waterisavailabletwoorthreehoursperday.

Thewatersupplyandseweragesystem,completedin2006,ismanagedbytheVWSCwith24technicalstaff.AuniqueaspectofthisVWSCisthatithasfourengineers and a doctor among its members,whohavebeeninvolvedwiththeprojectsinceinception.

Thevillagerstookadecisionthattoiletswouldbecompulsoryinallhouses,shopsandbuildings

constructedaftertheinceptionoftheproject.Inaddition,apleatostopthepracticeofopendefecation was made through the Shramadaanprogram.Variouscapacitybuildinginterventionsonimplementationandmanagementofthewatersupplyschemesandpromotionofsocialactivitieswereorganized.Today,1,920householdshavetoiletsandthevillagehassixcommunitylatrines.


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Thesewerageprojectwasimplementedatacostof Rs.3,18,71,000.ThecommunitycontributedRs.35lakhforthesewerageproject.TheGPPresident,members,VWSCmembers,villageheads,andrepresentativesofwomen’sorganizationswentfromdoortodoortocollectthefunds.Atvariousstagesoftheproject,ownersofearth-movingmachinerycooperatedbylendingtheservicesoftheirmachines for free.

The sewerage system is made of1,920connections,amainpipeline7kilometerslongconsistingofHDPEandPVCpipes,42kilometrelongstonewareandRCCpipes,threedrainagezonesandonefinaltreatmentanddisposalsite.Wastewaterflowsthroughthesepipesintotwoopenoxidationpondswithacapacityof35lakhlitresandisthenpumpedintotheclearwatertank.Itisestimatedthatabout50percentofthedaily1,300m3ofwastewaterproducediscollected.

Initially,itwassuggestedthatthetreatedwaterbeletoutintoapitnexttotheclearwatertank.

However,theengineersadvisedtheVWSCthatthewatercouldbereused.Currently,farmerspumpthis water into tankers for use in irrigation.Thenextstep,underprogress,istolaydownpipestotheadjacentfieldsforirrigationandchargeanominalfee(Rs.150peracreperyear) to farmers.

Underthescheme,1,490individualhouseholdtoiletshavebeenconstructed.Personal,familyandcommunityhygienehasbeensubstantiallyenhanced.Twentypublicstandpostshavebeenconstructed;andsevenschools,includingaprivateschool,havebeenprovidedwithdrinkingwatersupply,andparkshavebeenconstructedinfiveschools,whichpromotesenvironmentalawareness and hygiene among school children.

TheVWSCpreparesabudgetandpresentsitattheGramaSabha.Watertaxesarecollectedanddepositedinthemaintenanceaccounttopayforexpenditures.Thechargesarefixed:forhouseholdsRs.60permonth;forpublicaccesspointsRs.30permonthandforcommercialsupplypointsRs.100permonth.

Educationinstitutionsandhospitalsarenotrequiredtopayforwater.In2006,thewatertaxwasRs.10permonthperfamily;however,tocoverexpenses(wardstaffsalary,electricitybillandmaintenanceworks),twotaxincreasestookplacein2008and2010.Thereisnoregularchargefortheseweragesystem,excepta one-time connection fee of Rs.500.However,theVWSCisfinanciallyinapoorshapeandhas Rs. 80 lakh of electricity billspending.

DuetotheJalNirmalproject,Hulakoti,whichhasachievedalltargetstoqualifyitfortheNirmalGramPuraskar(NGPorcleanvillageaward),isnowacleanandbeautifulvillage.Thecommunityhasgivenupthehabitofdumpinggarbageandwasteinpublicspaces,wastewaterfromsewageisbeingeffectivelyutilizedforirrigation,incidencesofmalariaanddiarrhoeahavereduced,andparksestablishedundertheauspicesoftheGPandJalaNirmalprojecthavecontributedtoacleanandgreenenvironment.Thesewerageprojecthasalsocontributedtomakingthepeople’waterliterate’.

Inputs by: KarnatakaRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationAgency,JalNirmalProject,andSuryanarayan Satish,SocialDevelopmentSpecialist,WorldBank

COMMUNICATIONFORWATER

ThehistoryoforganizeddevelopmentcommunicationinIndiacanbetracedtoruralradiobroadcastsinthe1940s.IndependentIndia’searliestorganizedexperimentsindevelopmentcommunicationstartedwithcommunitydevelopmentprojectsinitiatedbytheGovernmentofIndiainthe1950s.Thegovernment,guidedbysocialisticidealsofitsconstitutionandthefirstgenerationofpoliticians,startedmassivedevelopmentalprogramsthroughoutthecountry.Whilefieldpublicitywasgivendueimportanceforperson-to-personcommunicationbecausethelevelofliteracywasverylowinruralareas,radioplayedanequallyimportantroleinreachingmessagestothemasses.Universitiesandothereducationalinstitutions–especiallytheagriculturaluniversities,throughtheirextensionnetworks–andinternationalorganizationsundertheUnitedNationsumbrellacarriedthedevelopmentcommunicationsbannerfurther.

DevelopmentcommunicationinIndia,acountryofsub-continentalproportions,hasacquiredmanyconnotations.Ononeendofthespectrumarethetoolsandtechniqueslocallyappliedbycharitableandnot-for-profitorganizationswithverycloseinter-personalrelationsamongthecommunicatorsand,ontheotherend,isthegeneric,topdowncommunicationemanatingfromthegovernment.

Theneedfordevelopmentcommunicationcontinuessincealargepercentageofthepopulationlivesinruralareasanddependsdirectlyonagriculture.Povertyisreducingasapercentageofthepopulationbutalargenumberofpeoplestillliveindestitution.Theyneedgovernmentsupportindifferentforms.Therefore,communicationfromthegovernmentremainshighlyrelevant.Inadditiontothetraditionalways,anewformofcommunicationisbeingtriedbytheGovernmentofIndiatosupportitsdevelopmentalactivities,thoughonalimitedscale.CalledPublicInformationCampaigns,publicshowsareorganizedinremoteareaswhereinformationonsocialanddevelopmentalschemesisgiven,seminarsandworkshopsareheld,villagersandtheirchildrenareengagedincompetitions,messagesaregiventhroughentertainmentshows.Inaddition,governmentandcorporateorganizationsinvolvedinruralbusinessesdisplaytheirwaresandservicesinstallsliningthemainexhibitionarea.Thisapproachbringstogethervariousimplementingagenciesandservice/goodsproviderswhiletheinformationprovidersencouragethevisitorstomakethebestuseofvariousschemesandservicesavailable.Somestategovernmentshavealsoadoptedthismodeltotaketheirdevelopmentschemestothemasses.

Strategiccommunicationisacomprehensiveandholisticconcept.Today,thevalue-additionofcommunicationtoenhancesustainabilityofruraldevelopmentprogramsiswellrecognized.Thereisalsoanincreasingawarenessthatbothinternalandexternalcommunicationshouldbecarefullyplanned,implemented,andmonitoredandevaluated.

Overall,theapproachtostrategiccommunicationsvariesandthereisconfusionaboutitsvariouscomponentsandhowitisstrategic.MostpeopleusethetermIECormediaorworse,publicrelations,todescribecommunications.Manybelievethatcommunicationactivitiesneedtobeimplementedonlyduringthelifecycleoftheprojects,fromidentificationandformulation,toimplementation,monitoringandevaluation.Communicationismorethandisseminatinginformationandknowledge,itisalsoaboutfosteringsocialawarenessandfacilitatingdialogue.Itisaboutcontributingtobuildingasharedunderstandingthatcan lead to change.

Itdoesnotaddcoststotheprojectcycle,atleastnotinthelongrun,butratheritreducesthecostsofuseless,oftenunplanned,communicationactivitiesand,mostimportantly,ensuresthattheprojectisdesignedwiththeconsensusofamajorityofstakeholders,thatitsgoalsareshared,andthatitsimplementationissuccessful.InterestingexamplesfromIndiaarecapturedinthefollowingpages.


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PunjabisoneofthemoreprosperousstatesofIndia.However,thegroundrealitiesintermsofsocialdevelopmentarequitedifferent--some30percentofthevillagesstilldonothaveaccesstobasicdrinkingwaterservice.About60percenthouseholdsinPunjabaredependentonunsafeprivatedrinkingwatersources.WithhighO&McostsfacedbytheDWSSandlowO&Mcostrecoveryfromusers,thewatersupplysystemsarebecomingunsustainable;chargedseptictankeffluentflowinginopendrainshasdegradedtheenvironmentalconditionsinthevillagesandposesaserioushealthhazard.Thecurrentinstitutional,operationalandfinancingarrangementspresentconstraintsandchallengesinachievingserviceimprovementsorensuringlong-termsustainabilityinprovidingsafedrinkingwatertotheruralmasses.

RuralWaterSupplyandSanitationProjectLocation: Punjab

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TheInternationalDevelopmentAgency(IDA)-assistedPunjabRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationProject(PRWSSP)aimstoovercomethesehurdlesbyfocusingonprovidingruralhouseholdsinthestatewithaccesstosafeandadequatedrinkingwatersupplythroughouttheyear.Theprojectisdecentralizingandempoweringthevillagerstomanageandoperatetheirownwatersupplyschemes so that they can tailor it to meet their needs.

Project communication

VeryearlyinthelifeofthePRWSSP,thestateprojectmanagementteamrecognizedtheimportanceofcommunicationinitseffectiveimplementation,especiallyincreatingademandfortheschemeamongst rural communities. The designing of thecommunicationstrategyinvolvedaniterativeprocessencompassing:i)conductingadetailedneedsassessmentstudy;ii)extensiveplanningbetweenthestateprojectmanagementteamandthedistrictmanagementteams;iii)developmentandpre-testingofmaterialsdevelopedwithintheproject;iv)effectiveimplementationoftheagreedcommunicationplan;v)regularmonitoringandevaluation;andvi)feedbackbeingintegratedintotheagreedcommunicationplan,thusmakingtheentirecommunicationprocessa‘livingandin-progress’cycleofreassessmentandrefinement.Astheprojectispeople-centricintermsofvillagerscontributingtowardsthescheme,beinganintegralpartoftheplanning,technologyselection(typeofscheme),procurement(bidinvitation,award),constructionandO&Mmanagementofallnewwatersupplyschemes,interpersonalcommunicationandcapacitybuildingareamajorcomponentoftheoutreachprogramdevelopedandsupportedbytheDWSS.

Tosupporttheseactivities,extensivebehaviourchangecommunicationmaterialshavebeendevelopedbytheprojectsuchasflipcharts,flyers,

booklets,andposterslinkedtoeachstageoftheproject’slifecycle.

Anintegralpartofthecommunicationstrategyisthewatertestingkitthathasbeenextremelysuccessful as a trigger to enter the community andinitiatedialogueontheneedforsafequalitydrinkingwaterinthevillage.Oncethedistrictteamshavegainedentryintothevillage,theprocessofconsensusbuildingandestablishingthelong-termvisionstartswiththevillagers,forthemtoagreetoowningandoperatingtheirownwaterschemewithinacleartimeframe.Throughinterpersonalcommunication,useofmassmedia,andcapacitybuilding,theentirevillagecomestoaconsensusandunderstandstheadvantageofsubscribingtotheschemeandthekindofcommitmentitrequiresfromtheirend.Thisprocessculminateswiththevillagersgarneringthecontributoryamountandtheformationofacommitteeofpeoplewillingtotaketheleadinmovingthevillagetowardssafedrinkingwaterandhelpingrunitinasustainablemannerbynegotiatingthefrequencyofwatersupply,maintainingtheaccounts,raisingbillstimely,collectingbills,holdingnon-payersaccountable,supervisingandmanagingthepumpoperator,ensuringthattheelectricitybillispaidontimeand,lastbutnottheleast,sensitizingpeopleontheneedandimportanceofwaterconservation.ThiscommitteeisheadedbytheSarpanchandisinclusiveofrepresentationfromtheweakestmembersofsocietyincludingwomen.

Inkeepingwiththeneedfortransparency,thestatemanagementteamhascreatedawebsitethathostsallprojectrelatedinformation;hasmandatedtheneed for disclosure walls that clearly articulate the dateofcommissioningofthescheme,namesofthemembersofthewatersupplycommittee,amountcontributedbythevillage,monthlybilling,monthlyexpenditure,creditinthebankpostexpenditure,nameofthepumpoperator,etc.,andputinplacea24x7complaintredressalhelplineforitscustomers.


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EngagingtheCommunityLocation: Rajasthan, gujarat

Aapni yojana13

Aapniyojnaisaruralwater-supplyprojectcoveringabout20,000squarekilometreinthreedistrictsofnorthernRajasthan,viz.,Churu,HanumangarhandJhunjhunu.Theprojectisco-fundedbytheGovernmentofGermanythroughitsdevelopmentbank,KfW.Itcoversapopulationofabout9lakhin370villagesandtwotowns,atacostofaboutRs.426crore.ThebulkofthisinvestmentisdedicatedtothetechnicalworksimplementedbytheProjectManagementCell,aspecialunitofthePHEDofRajasthan.Theproject’smainobjectiveistoimprovethehealthstatusandlivingconditionsofthetargetpopulation.SustainablesupplyisensuredfromtheIndiraGandhiCanal,asgroundwaterisinsufficientandsaline.

Toensuresustainabilityandenhancementofthebenefits,theconceptofcommunityparticipationwasusedinadrinkingwaterprojectforthefirsttimeinthehistoryofthestate.AconsortiumoffiveleadingNGOs,ledbytheIndianInstituteofHealthManagementandResearch,implementedthecommunityparticipationapproachusingavarietyoftoolssuchasbrochuresandflyers,door-to-doorcampaign,village-levelconsultations,schoolmeetings,puppetryandfolkmedia.AWaterandHealthCommitteemanagesthewaterdistributionsystemineachvillage.Thecommunitywasmotivatedthroughawarenessbuildingforpaymentofbills,waterconservation,equalandfairdistributiontoallvillages,healtheducationmeasuresandsanitationmeasures.Aswomenwerethemainbeneficiariesofimprovedwatersupplyandalsotheprincipaltargetgroupforhealtheducation,women’sparticipationwasthekeyelementacrossalltheseactivities.Theimplicationsofownershiparethatthecommunityhadtherighttodecideonplanning,designing,implementing,monitoring,operatingandmaintainingtheinstallationsofthesystemwithinitsvillage.

WASMo, gujarat14

TheMissionofWaterandSanitationManagementOrganization,Gujarat,is“workingtowardsdrinkingwatersecurityandhabitatimprovementbyempoweringcommunitiestomanagetheirlocalwatersources,drinkingwatersupplyandenvironmentalsanitation”.Inmeetingthisend,itemploystheservicesofNGOsorsupportagenciestocarryoutcommunityoutreach,buildsocialcapitalandhelpthecommunityplanitswatersupplyschemesinasustainablemanner–socially,environmentally,andfinancially.Selectedonthebasisofexistingrelationshipsinthetargetvillagessothattheyenjoygreatertrustandefficacyamongthecommunities,eachNGOteam,comprisingeightmembers,isresponsibleforaround40-50villages.ThefacilitationbytheNGOshasbeenthekeytosuccessofruralwaterinitiativesinGujarat,inadditiontotheenablingenvironmentcreatedbythestategovernmentandWASMO.MostNGOsgraduallybuildsupportandconstituencyforthewaterreformsandthenintroducetheformationofPaniSamitis(WaterandSanitationCommittees)andwaterschemesusingavarietyofsocialmobilizationandcommunicationtools.Someofthesetoolsarebrochures,posters,door-to-doorcampaign,village-levelmeetings,focusoninvolvementofwomen,andfilms.

EachvillageformsaPaniSamiti,comprising10-20membersrepresentingdifferentcastesandsectionsinthevillage.ItischairedeitherbytheSarpanchorthewardPanch.ThisSamitiistheexecutorofalldrinkingwaterprojectsandreceivesfundsdirectlyfromWASMO;thecommunitycontributes10percentormoreofthetotalcost.Allprocurement,labourandmaterial,isdonedirectlybythePaniSamiti.Mostvillageshaveimplementedwaterdeliverysystemsthatprovideaprivatehouseholdconnectiontoeachfamily.Somevillagesprovide24x7supply.Mostvillageskeepabufferstorageofsevento10daystoensuredrinkingwaterevenifpumpsorbulksupplyfails.ThereisauserfeechargedbythePaniSamiti,whichisusedforpayingbulkwaterchargesandO&Mcosts.Strongemphasishasbeenlaidinthecommunicationtoolsonpersonalhygieneandsanitation;schoolsstudentsareaprimefocusofsuchcommunication.

13 Reference : www.aapniyojana.org14 Reference : www.wasmo.org


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SuccessfulModelofPublicPrivatePartnership inCommunicationsLocation: kerala

Palathulli-Jalasureksha2010(Palathulli –‘many-a-drop’,Jalasureksha –‘watersecurity’)wasajointcommunicationscampaign(roadshow)organizedbytheCommunicationandCapacityDevelopmentUnit(CCDU)oftheWaterResourcesDepartment,MalayalaManorama,amediahouseinthestateandUNICEF,forpropagatingthemessageofwatersecurity.

Kerala,arguablyoneofthemostrain-richstatesinthecountry,isfacingadeclineintheavailabilityandqualityofpotablewater.Thestateregistersoneofthehighestpercapitaconsumptionofpotablewaterinthecountry.Sandmininginriversandwatershedsiskillingtheriversandcreatingseveralenvironmentalproblems.ThewellsinKeralarundryduringsummerandthereisanacuteshortageintheavailabilityofpurewater.All44riversinKeralaarehighlypollutedduetoinflowofuntreateddomesticandindustrialwasteandagriculturerunoff.Mostindustriesarelocatednearthethicklypopulatedriversides,oftennearcitiesandtowns.Wide-spreadbacteriologicalcontaminationoffecalorigininsourcesofpublicdrinkingwatersupplies(traditionalopendugwells,borewellsandsurfacesources)isamatterofgraveconcern.Studiesshowthatthequalityofdrinkingwatersuppliesinthestateclearlyindicateshighlevelofbacterialcontamination.Thisposesaseriousrisktopublichealth.Toaddresstheissueofscarcityofpotablewateranddegradingwaterquality,amassivedrivewasconceivedtocapitalizeontheawarenessthatwascreatedinearlieryearsbyvariousgovernmentalandnon-governmentalcampaigns.Influencingthemassesforasustainedbehaviouralchange was the critical challenge.


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Despitespurtsofactivities,therestillexistsignoranceonthesubjectofwaterconservationandwaterqualitymanagementamongthepeople.Inthiscontext,Palathulli,aprojectonwaterconservationbyMalayala Manorama,andJalasureksha,aprojectonwaterqualitymanagementbytheDepartmentofWaterResources,wereintegratedtoleveragethestrengthsofbothprojectsandtodevelopthecampaign‘Palathulli- Jalasureksha’.

Malayala Manorama, the largest circulated and the largest read regionallanguagenewspaperinthecountry,alsohasleadershippresenceintelevision,radio,onlineandprintmediawithahostofmediatitles.ManoramahadlaunchedthePalathulliprojectin2004,anawarenessandcapacitybuildingcampaigntoface societal challenges related to water. It resulted in a new paradigmofconservationoffreshwaterriversandwatersourcesand,mostimportantly,rainwaterharvesting.Theprojectwasfocusedonrainwaterharvestingand was immensely successful. TheprojectwonmanyawardsliketheUNESCOIPDCInternationalPrizeforRuralCommunicationin2006andtheIndiraGandhiEnvironmentalPrizein2007.

TheDepartmentofWaterResources,GovernmentofKerala,launched Jalasureksha, a water securityprogramtoaddressthewaterrelatedproblems.Themainobjectiveofthisprogramwasto assure water security for all in asustainablemannerthrough

variousprogramsinitiatedbythegovernmentandimplementedthroughpeople’sparticipation.Thecoreofthisprogramistocombinetheeffortsofallthelinedepartmentsandrelevantorganizationsandimplementthewatersecurityplansundertheauspicesofpeople’srepresentatives.ProvisionisalsomadefortherequiredIECandhumanresourcedevelopment(HRD)activitiessoastoensureactivepublicinvolvementwhichisinvariablyaprimaryrequisiteforthesuccessofsuchanendeavour.TheCCDUKeralaisimplementingthestate-wideIECandHRDactivitiesthroughvariousprojects.

Theobjectivewastocapitalizeon the awareness already createdandinduceabehaviouralchange. The theme of the messagewas‘PureWater,PureEnvironment’givingtheconcernsonwaterqualityaholisticenvironmentalapproach.Such a messages and learning shouldideallybecultivatedinpeople’smindfromaveryyoungage.AmassivedrivewithlocalemphasizewasachievedthrougharoadshowcoveringtheentirestateofKerala.Since‘catching them young’ was the idea,thestrategywastotargetschools and interact with as manystudentsaspossible.The20-daylongroadshowjointlymanagedbyMalayala Manorama andCCDUranacrossbothurbanandruralcentresacrossall14districtsinKerala.Eachday,threeschoolsandonepublicplacewereselectedasthevenuesfortheroadshowtovisit.

Activities: AvanwasfabricatedtolooklikeatypicalhouseinKerala.Theactivitiesstagedonandinfrontofthevehicleincludedfolksongs,magicshows,spotgamesforthestudents,waterqualitytestinglabandresourcepersoninteraction,distributionofwaterqualitytestingkitstoschools,Palathulli-Jalasureksha pledgecards/stickersfordistributionandagiantdropletmascot.

Folk songs: Arenownedtroupeof10artistesconveyedmessagesontheneedforprotectingourwater sources and maintaining thepurityofwater,throughmelodic folk songs. The traditional art of folk songs not only arousedinterestbutalsomadean emotional connect with the crowd.ThesongscoveredthemeslikeKeralarivers,purewaterandpureenvironment.

Magic show: Thevariousmagictricksperformedbyarenownedmagician induced curiosity andconveyedthemessageeffectively.Aftereachitem,themagicianexplainedthemessagetotheaudience.Eachitemwasdevelopedbasedonthethemeofwaterquality,domesticwastemanagement,sanitationplanning,waterbornediseases,riversofKerala,etc.

Spot games for the students: Thecompereaskedquestionsrelated to the theme of water to the students gathered at each location.Prizesweregiventocorrect answers.

Water testing lab and resource person interaction:Aresource


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personfromCCDUinteractedwiththecrowdfor10minutes.Ateachschool,around10watersampleswerecollectedand,usingthekit,qualitytestingwasdemonstratedtotheChemistryteacherandafew senior students. During this livedemonstration,theresourcepersonexplainedtheimportanceofconfirmingthequalityofwater.

Water quality testing kit and contest kit distribution: Eachschoolwashandedoverawaterqualitytestingkitafterthelivedemonstration on how to use it.Alongwiththis,acontestkitwasalsogiven.ThecontestannouncedbyCCDUwasareportpreparationcontestwhereintheschoolswereaskedtoprepareareportusingthewaterqualitytestingkitprovidedtotheschool.ThebestreportswouldbegivenprizemoneybytheGovernmentofKerala.

Pledge stickers and leaflet distribution: Anattractivestickerwithasimplemessageonthecampaignthemewasdistributedtotheschoolstudents.Alongwiththis,informativeleafletsweredistributedtotheaudience.

giant droplet mascot: Agiantdropletwasthemascotoftheroadshow.Popularlynamed‘GrandpaRaindrop,’themascotentertained the students with a dance.

Over50schoolsand20publicplaceshostedtheroadshowactivityaspartofthiscampaign.Schools with a headcount of

over2,000studentseachwereselected.Theprogramatpublicplaceswaswitnessedbyacrowdofspectatorsateachlocation.Theresponsefromtheschoolswastremendous. The road show was receivedwithlivelyenthusiasmbytheyoungstudents.Thekeeninterestshowedbytheattentiveaudience was encouraging for the organizers.Theschoolauthoritiesexpressedappreciationofthecontentandqualityofthe road show.

Attentionandinterestwassustainedbyhighprofilecrossmediacoverage.Malayala Manorama newspapercoveredtheroadshowatallvenuesintherespectivedistrictpageswithphotographs.ManoramaNewstelevisionchannelcoveredthe road show in the local news segmentcorrespondingtoeachlocation.RadioMangoFMstationfromtheManoramaGroupgaveradiojockeybytesannouncingthearrivaloftheroadshowtothelocality.TheManoramaOnlineportaldevelopedaspecialminisiteontheactivitiesanddocumentedthephotographsandvideosonaregularbasis.

Thekeyfactorbehindthesuccessofthiscampaignwasthe teamwork and the synergy thatcouldbeachievedoutofthispublicprivatepartnership.UNICEF’sassociationenhancedthecredibilityoftheproject.ManoramaGroupprovidedtheeventmanagementexpertiseand cross media editorial coveragefortheprogram.TheDepartmentofWaterResourcesprovidedtheresourcepersons–chemistsandengineersfromKeralaWaterAuthorityandCCDUforinteractingwith students and also the waterqualitytestingkitsandliteraturefordistribution.

Palathulli- Jalasureksha is a great exampleofasuccessfulmodelofpublicprivatepartnership.Theroleofthegovernmentinfacilitatingtheprogramandthe role of the media house in responsiblecommunicationwent hand in hand. The results achievedbysuchapartnership,investingineducatingtheyoungcitizensofthecountryandtriggeringabehaviouralchange,willbearfruitsandstandthetestof time.

Inputs by: dilip koshy, MalayalaManorama; dr. Suseel Samuel, WaterandSanitationSpecialist, and Vandana Mehra,CommunicationSpecialist,WaterandSanitationProgram,e-mail:[email protected]


STATELEVELREFORMS


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Despitesizeableinvestmentsoverthe1980sand1990sintherural water and sanitation sector inMaharashtra,manycitizensstill remained without access to safeandadequatewaterandsanitation.Ontheotherhand,therewasafinancialcrisiswhereresources were limited and needs were many. This situation promptedtheGovernmentofMaharashtratoundertakegovernancereformsinthesectorintheyear2000.

MaharashtraislocatedinWesternIndiaandhasatotalpopulationofabout97millionasperthelastcensusof2001.Outofthis,56million(58percent)populationresidesinruraland41million(42percent)inurbanareas.Thestate has 35 districts. Two of thedistrictsareurban(Mumbai

TowardsaUniformApproachfor DecentralizedServiceDeliveryLocation: Maharashtra

andMumbaisuburban)whilethe remaining 33 are rural. For administrativepurposes,thestateisdividedintosixrevenuedivisions.15Theruralpopulationresidesin24,000GPs,furthersub-dividedinto40,785villagesandaround45,500habitations.

TheGovernmentofMaharashtrarural water sector reforms includedtheimplementationofauniformapproachacrossthestate,irrespectiveofsourceoffunding,where:i)localgovernmentsledtheprocessofneedidentification,designs,executionandO&Minfullconsultationwithresidents; ii)VWSCsarethevehicletoassistlocalgovernmentsintheprocess;iii)thevillageshouldcontribute10percentofcapitalcostandagreetopayforall

O&Mcosts(includingpower)throughappropriateuserfees;iv)theDistrictgovernmentprovidestechnicalsupporttothevillagesandalsosupervisesqualityoftheprocessandworks;v)thecentralizedPHEDhasbeenrestructuredtoplayarole of technical consultants to villages;andvi)theintroductionofcompetitiverewardsbasedonperformanceindicatorsforthelocalgovernments.

Allthesereformsledtoadrasticshiftfromthetraditionaltop-downapproachtoabottom-upapproachacrossthestatewithappropriateinstitutionalstructurestosupporttheprocess.

The changes in roles and responsibilitiesbeforeandafterreformsareshowninTable9.

15 Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Amravati.


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Basedonthesereforms,theWorldBankfinancedaruralwaterandsanitationprojectinthestatefrom2002-09.Theprojecthas

vPost-reforms*Pre-reforms

Table 9: changes in roles and responsibilities before and after reforms

ProjectCycleActivities Gram Block Zila PHED17

Panchayat16 Panchayat Panchayat Plan, design & execution of water supply infrastructure

Watersupplyneedsidentification v *Communitymobilization v Design of scheme v v v Singlevillage v *Multi-village v v *

Contracting v *Funds routing v v *Supervisionduringconstruction Singlevillage v *Multi-village v *

Waterqualitytesting v v v *

o&M responsibility

Singlevillage v *Multi-village v v *Watertarifffinalization

Invillagewaterdistribution v *Bulkwatersupply v *

Watertariffpaymentcollection Invillagewaterdistribution v v

Bulkwatersupply *

Monitoring and grievance redressal

CapacitybuildingofGPs v

Monitoring v v v *

beenimplementedinabout3,021villagesin26districtsacrossthestate,coveringabout8.9millionruralcitizens(1,162,606

households).Arecentlyconcludedreportofthisprojectindicatesthefollowingimprovementsduetotheapproach.

16 India has adopted a three tier decentralized rural governance structure and assigned different roles and responsibilities to the three tiers.The nature of the organizations and their roles vary from state to state. The GP is the lowest tier of elected government, the Block Panchayat is the second highest tier and the Zila Panchayat is the district level elected government. 17 The PHED is the state level centralized engineering unit that has been created in the 1970s in most states to design, execute and manage water supply schemes in both villages and cities.


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Table 10: Improvements due to the project

Indicator Baseline Current Situation-2002 Situation-2010

%ofGPswherewaterschemesarefullyfunctional N/A 2,294(wherewater andaredeliveringpotablewatertothehouseholds supply asperGovt.ofMaharashtracriteria18 commissioned)76%

%ofhouseholdsusingsanitationfacilities 19% 77% inprojectvillages (220,895) 898,351

%ofGPswhere100%ODFstatushasbeenachieved 0% 61% (1848)

No.ofGPswherefullcommunitycontributionfor 0 3,022 capitalhasbeenachieved

%ofGPsholdingaminimumof6GramSabhas19 0% 93%20 peryear,tomakedecisionsonplanning, (2,810) implementationandO&MofRWSS

%participationofwomenintheGramSabha 5% 53% meetings,acrossallGPs

Inputs by: J.V.R. Murty, WaterandSanitationProgram,e-mail:[email protected]

18 To be reachable within 1.6 km distance, 30 m vertical distance.19 Gram Sabha is village assembly to make decisions concerning village development or other local issues.20 Last assessed in March 2008.

key Lessons

• Decentralizationispartofthelargergovernancestructure and needs politicalcommitment,appropriatepolicyenvironmentandinstitutional structures

• Whiledecentralizing,itisimportanttodefinetherolesandresponsibilityofcentralizedinstitutions(likethePHEDs)andalsoundertakenecessary restructuring of the centralizedagency

• Whiledecentralizationisseenasgivingalargepartofthe

rolesandresponsibilitiestolowesttiersofgovernmentorcommunities,thereisaneedtodefinesupportfromhighertiersofgovernment

• Competitions,peer-learningaregoodapproachestocapacitybuildingoflocalgovernments


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ThepilotphaseoftheruralwatersupplyandsanitationprojectimplementedinUttarPradeshandUttarakhand(popularlyknownasSwajalProject)during1996-2003becameasectormodel in India. Demonstrated successoftheSwajalPilotProjectencouragedtheGovernmentofUttarakhandtoscaleitupforimprovedcoverageinthestate,adoptingasector-wideapproach.Thescaledupproject,nowcalledtheUttarakhandRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationProject(‘GlobalFirst’ruralwatersupplyandsanitationproject),isuniqueonseveralcounts.Conceptssuchasdecentralization,partnership,communitymanagement,effectivedemand,genderanalysisandcostrecoveryaredeeplyengrainedintheprojectprinciplesadheringtothe73rdconstitutional amendment of the IndianConstitution.

TheprojectcoverstheentireruralUttarakhandandisfacilitatedbytheDepartmentofDrinkingWater,GovernmentofUttarakhandandexecutedbythreeagenciesnamelyUttarakhandPeyjalNigam(UJN),UttarakhandJalSansthan(UJS)andProjectManagementUnit(Swajal).IDA-WorldBank,GovernmentofIndia,GovernmentofUttarakhandandruralbeneficiarycommunitiesjointlyfundtheproject.TheprojecthasatotalbudgetofUS$224millionof

UttarakhandRuralWaterSupplyandSanitationProject: AFlag-beareroftheSectorWideApproachLocation: uttarakhand

whichtheIDAcreditislimitedtoamaximumofUS$120million.TheprojectcommencedoperationsinNovember2006andwillconcludeinJune2012.

Thiscasestudyattemptsto:i)describetheprojectinbrief;ii)identifysomeuniquecharacteristicsoftheproject;iii)shareexperiencesandgoodpracticesundertheproject,includingtheirapplicabilityandefficacyinimprovingsustainableservicefortheruralcommunities;andiv)detaillessonslearntforbetterworkingandplanning with communities.

Thedeliveryofsustainableruralwatersupplyandsanitationserviceisanissueofconsiderableconcernamongpolicyplannersand water sector managers of the country. The case study is intended for managers and plannerswhoareconcernedwiththechallengingproblemofhowtodeliversustainablewatersupplyandsanitationservicesintheruralareas.Evidenceexiststosupportthefactthatsustainabledeliveryofwatersupplyandsanitationservicesencompassesnotonlytechnicalissues,butalsomanagerial,social,financialandinstitutional.

Thecurrentprojectdesignissuchthatitmovesawayfromthetarget-based,supply-drivenmodeltoademand-based

approachwhereusersgettheservicetheywantandarewillingtopayforitacrosstheruralareaofthestate,i.e.,acrossthesector.Thebasicprinciplesforreformintheruralwatersupplyandsanitationservicesectorincludecommunityparticipationintheplanning,implementation,O&Mfortheschemeofitschoice,and the changing role of the governmentfromthatofaserviceprovidertoafacilitator.

Theuniquefeaturesoftheprojecthavebenefited/arebenefitingruralcommunitiesinseveralways.Admittedly,thecultureofdependenceonoutsidersforabasicnecessitylikewatersupplyhasbeenconsiderablyreducedbytheempoweredUserWaterSupplyandSanitationCommittees(UWSSCs)regardingquality,quantity,servicelevelandsystemreliabilityofthewatersupplyscheme.Thebenefitsaccrued to communities due to sustainableO&MofthewatersupplyschemebytheVWSCinclude:i)reductionincopingcostaswellasmoreavailabilityofhouseholdspaceduetoelimination of storing water in largercontainers;ii)eliminationoftraveltimeandtravelcostinlodgingno-watercomplaints,makingpaymentofbills/gettingcorrectionsinwrongbillsandgetting sanction of new water connection;iii)improvementinMeanTimeBetweenFailure


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(MTBF)duetobetterqualityofrepairsandstrictcontrol/supervisionbythecommunity;andiv),mostimportantly,reducedbureaucracy.

Water scarcity in hilly regions isamajorissuebeingfacedbythestate.Datafromexistingwatersupplyschemesindicatedthatnearly30percentoftheschemessufferedfromadecreaseintheavailabilityofwater,especiallyduringthesummermonths,becauseofdepletionofwater sources. This also caused someofthevillagerstospendconsiderableamountoftimecollecting water for domestic use,averagingonetothreehoursperday;evenmoretimeisspentinhillylocations.Theproblemwasaggravatedbywatersupplysystemswhichhadoutlivedtheirdesignlife,andinadequateO&M.

Itiswidelyrecognizedthatsupply-drivenruralwatersupplyandsanitationservicedeliverydoesnotadequatelyservetherequirementsofuser communities as they are often located at sites without consideration of community needsorpreference.Planningofruralwatersupplyandsanitationservicesalsotakesplacewithoutdueattentiontoresourceavailabilityorquality,and the schemes are rarely financiallyviable.Theendresultisagovernment-dominatedandtarget-drivenservicethathasbecomeunsustainable.

Thecurrentprojectsignificantlydiffersfrompreviouseffortstosupplywater.Thetenetsofthecurrentprojectinclude:i)

acommunity-ledparticipatoryprogramwhichaimedtoprovidedrinkingwaterfacilitiesin rural areas with minimum provisionof40lpcd;ii)adoptionofademand-responsive,adaptableapproachalongwithcommunityparticipationbasedonempowermentofvillagerstoensuretheirfullparticipationintheprojectthroughadecisionmaking role in the choice of the drinkingwaterscheme,planning,design,implementation,controloffinancesandmanagementarrangements;iii)fullownershipof drinking water assets with UWSSCs;(iv)communitieshavethepowerstoplan,implement,operate,maintainandmanageallwatersupplyandsanitationschemes;v)partialcapitalcostsharing either in cash or kind includinglabourorboth,100percentresponsibilityofO&Mbytheusers;vi)anintegratedservicedeliverymechanism;vii)takingupofconservationmeasuresthroughrainwaterharvestingandground water recharge systems for sustained drinking water supply;andviii)shiftingtheroleofgovernmentfromdirectservicedeliverytothatofplanning,policyformulation,monitoringandevaluation,andpartialfinancialsupport.

Theproject’sdevelopmentobjectiveistoimprovetheeffectivenessofruralwatersupplyandsanitationservicesthroughdecentralizationandincreasedroleofPRIsandinvolvementoflocal communities in the state. Theprojectisalsoaimedatbringingassociatedbenefits,includingimprovedhealthresulting from reduced water-

bornediseases,environmentalsustainabilitythroughprotectionand management of water sourcecatchmentareas,andtimesavingsinfetchingwater,especiallyforwomen.Theprojectenvisagesupgradingnoorpartialcoverageofwatersupplytofullcoveragewithsustainableservice,benefitingatleast1.2millionpeople,or20percentoftheruralpopulation.Theprojectwillalsoimprovesanitationinabout30percentofruralcommunities,tobedeclaredODF.

Recognizingtheneedforscalingupreforms,theGovernmentofUttarakhandissueditsruralwatersupplyandsanitationsectorpolicy.Thekeyelementsofthepolicyincluded:i)decentralizedservicedeliverythroughdevolutionofadministrative,executive, andfinancialpowerstothethree-tierPRIinstitutions; ii)establishmentoftheStateWaterandSanitationMission(SWSM)andDistrictWaterandSanitationMissions(DWSMs),tooverseethepolicyandplanningforthesector;andiii)adoptionofanintegratedapproachtoservicedelivery,linkingwatersupply,sanitation,healthandhygiene,catchment-areaconservation,andcommunity-developmentinitiatives.

Proactivenessoftoppoliticalleadership and committed bureaucracy,willingnesstoimplementreformsattheseniorlevelandabroadconsensusofprioritiescreatedmomentumandlegitimacytodrivethesectorwideapproach(SWAp)program.TheprogressofSWAphasbeen


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madeanintegralpartofAnnualConfidentialReports.

Introduction of uniform computerized accounting system: Itwasrecognizedthatthetimelyreimbursementofprojectcostisdependentontimelypreparationoftheconsolidatedfinancialstatement.Therefore,acomputerizedaccountingsystemhavingan‘accountcodeclassificationsystem’wasoperationalizedinallimplementingagencyoffices.

Adequate change management: Appropriatechangemanagementeffortstoshiftthemindsetofthe sector institutions from serviceprovidertoafacilitatorwerewhole-heartedlytakenupbyengagingreputedtraininginstitutes.

Manuals suchasoperations,procurement,financialmanagement and technical for implementationoftheprojectwerepreparedandagreedwiththeWorldBankbeforeembarkingonactualimplementation.

Iec: Theprojectprintedbooklets,leaflets,andpostersthatprovidedmessagesontheproject,includinguseoftoilets,healthandhygieneaspects.Adocumentaryfilmdepictingdetailedprocesses

forimplementationoftheprojectwasprepared.

This case study does not highlight thecaseofaparticularwatersupplyschemebutdwellsonessentialfeaturesoftheprojectasa whole.

Theprojectisbeingexecutedbythreelineagencies:ProjectManagementUnitSwajal,UJSandUJN.SWSMandDWSMoverseetheactivitiesofthreelineagencies at the state and district level.Alldecisionsforplanning,design,implementationandmaintenancearedecentralizedatthedistrictandvillagelevel.ThevillageUWSSCundertheGPisfullyresponsiblefortheintra-villageschemedesign,procurement,implementationandmanagement.UJSandUJNareresponsibleforbulkwatersupplyundermulti-villageschemes.

Supportorganizationsarecontracted for community developmentandtechnicalsupporttotheUWSSCs.Theyarecontractedbythedistrictimplementingagency,basedonadistrictspecificshortlistofapplicants,asperprocurementguidelines.TheprojectmobilizeshouseholdsforgroupactionthroughtheUWSSC,asub-

committeeoftheGP.ThecompositionoftheUWSSCis interesting as rural women constitute30percent,withanequalnumberfromSCandSThouseholds.Communitieshaveshown tremendous interest and enthusiasm in shouldering responsibilities,includingprocurementandfinancialmanagementactivities.

ThetotalwatersectorinvestmentcommittedisUS$224millionfortheSWAp.PartnersfortheSWAppool(US$224million)includeGovernmentofIndia(31percent),GovernmentofUttarakhand(67percent);andtheUserCommunities(3percent) financialshare.TheIDAwillreimbursetheGovernmentofUttarakhandshareofSWApbasketuptoUS$120Million,againstanannuallyvaryingreimbursementpattern,agreedintheProjectAppraisalDocument.Thethreesub-componentsandpercentagesharebytheGovernmentofUttarakhandaregiveninTable11.

Thefollowingprojectcycleisfollowedfordetailedplanning,implementationandO&M:

Project cycle for single village schemes:Eachschemecycleincludesfourphases,including

Table 11: component-wise SWAp budget – share of the government of uttarakhand

SWApProgramComponents TotalBudget GoUshare %IDAReimbursement Million$ %

A RWSSDevelopment 5.02 5.02 100%B RWSSInfrastructureInvestments 196.78 103.40 53%C ProgramManagementSupportandM&E 22.09 11.60 52% Total 224.00 120.00 54%

RWSS: Rural Water Supply and Sanitation; GoU: Government of Uttarakhand


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pre-planning(twomonths),planning(threetosixmonths),implementation(sixto18months),andO&Mphase(fourmonths).Thedurationofeachphasedependsontheschemesize,technologytypeandthetimeittakestomobilizethecommunities.

(a) Pre-planning phase: Majoroutputsofthepre-planningphaseinclude:i)selectionofsupportorganizations;andii)collectionofbaselinedata;andiii)selectionofGP/habitation.SincetheGPisnotahomogenousunit,mostoftheinformationiscollectedfromeachhabitationoftheGPtounderstandtheaccessofdifferentsocio-economicgroupstowaterandsanitationfacilities.

(b) Planning phase: This phaseincludes:i)mobilizationofcommunities,participatoryplanning,anduseofSARARtools,probleminvestigation,analysisandsolving;ii)formationofUWSSC;iii)selectionofwatersupplyandsanitationtechnologybytheusersincommunity-widemeetings;iv)capacitybuildingoncommunitydevelopment,health,feasibilityanddesignofwatersupplyschemes,catchmentareaprotection,accounting,etc.,forsupportorganization/GP/UWSSCsmembers;v)preparationofdetailedprojectreportsandcommunityactionplanforeachUWSSC;vi)collectingupfrontcashandO&Mcommunitycontributionforwatersupply,sanitation,andcatchmentareaprotectionworks;andvii)involvementofwomen

andmarginalizedsectionsofcommunityintheentireplanningphase.

(c) Implementation phase: The outputsofthisphaseinclude:i)preparationofimplementationphaseproposal,constructionofwatersupplyschemes,environmentalsanitationworksandcatchmentareaprotectionworksbyGP/UWSSCthroughcommunity engineers contracted outbyDistrictImplementingAgency(DIA);ii)independentthirdpartyconstructionsupervisionbytheServiceAgencyand facilitation and monitoring byDIA,contractedoutbySWSM;iii)collectingbalancecash/labourandO&Mcommunitycontributionforwatersupply,sanitation,andcatchmentareaprotectionworks;iv)trainingoncommunitydevelopment,health,women’sdevelopmentinitiatives,bookkeeping,O&M(technical,institutional,financial),etc.,forGP/UWSSCmembers;andv)preparationoftheimplementationphasecompletionreports.

(d) o&M phase: DIAprovidestechnical assistance to the UWSSCsaftercommissioningofthewatersupplyschemestoplacetheO&Msysteminorder.TrainingattheGP/UWSSClevelisconductedbyDIA.TheO&Msystemcomprisesthetechnical,financial,andtheinstitutionalsystems.AfterestablishingO&Msystemandcompletingalltheactivitiesstipulatedintheagreement,theDIAformallyexitsfromtheGP.Thereafter,thescheme’s maintenance continues

tobecarriedoutbytheUWSSC.However,thesectoragenciescontinuetomonitorandsupporttheGPsonO&Missues,includinglargerepairs,whichcannotbeundertakenattheGPlevel.

Support organizations and Service Agencies

NGOsandcommunity-basedorganizationsareinvolvedinthesectorprogramasalinkbetweenthebeneficiarycommunitiesandthedistrictimplementingagencies.Actingascatalystsintheprocess,theyareinvolvedintheschemecycleactivitiesinmotivatingandmobilizingthecommunitiesandbuildingtheircapacitiestowardstheirenvisagedrolesandresponsibilitiesinthemanagement of their water and sanitation schemes.

Thechallengesfortheprojectweretodevelopasystemwhichembodiesthephilosophyofthedemand-responsiveapproach,andprovidesanalternativetosupply-drivenservicedeliverymechanism. The challenges for the implementingagencyweretoactasafacilitatorandco-financer(toprovideassistanceatappropriatetimeandensurecapitalcostsharingbythecommunity),asamonitor(processandprogress)and as an agency to ensure thestandardsofconstruction,accounts and community developmentactivities.

Theinnovationsandinterventionsatvariouslevelsarediscussedinfollowingparagraphs.Appropriatechangemanagement


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effortstoshiftthemindsetofthesectorinstitutionsfromserviceprovidertofacilitatorwerewhole-heartedlytakenupbyengagingreputedtraininginstitutes.StepshadtobeinitiatedforfocusingonO&Maspectsforthesustainabilityof schemes in addition to the trainingprogramsonthedesignandimplementationofruralwater and sanitation schemes. Howandwheretointeractwithdistrictlevelformalinstitutionshadtobefocusedonduringcapacitybuildinginordertocovertheeventualitiesofmajorrepairworks.TheProjectAppraisalDocumentandOperationsManualprovidethattheSWApprinciplesbefollowedforallnewinvestments.Itwasrecognizedthatin‘exceptionalsituations’theprinciplesof‘demand’responsivecommunityparticipationmaynotbepractical.Examplesofsuchexceptionalsituationsinclude:damagesduetonaturalcalamities,damagesduetoroadconstructionactivities,watersupplyschemesfortouristsenroutepilgrimagesites;andemergenciessuchasfloods,drought,epidemics,etc.ThepolicyexceptionsweresoughtfromtheWorldBank.

TheSixthImplementationSupportMission,April,2010,

Table 12: World Bank project rating India,UttaranchalRWSS(ProjectID:P083187;Loan/CreditNo.:42320

KeyProjectData CurrentRatingsandFlags

EffectivenessDate 11/30/2006 DevelopmentObjectives SatisfactoryClosingDate 06/30/2012 ImplementationProgress ModeratelySatisfactoryProjectAge 3.4years ProblemFlags None%Disbursed 21

oftheWorldBankinitsAide-MemoirehasgiventheprojectratingshowninTable12.

Theprojectisbeingimplementedbyfollowinguniformpoliciesand institutional arrangements across the state. Schemes covering more than 1,800 habitations have already laid a solid foundation for the SWAp program in Uttarakhand. Thedecentralizedinstitutionalarrangements,processesandproceduresareestablishedandfullyoperationalinallthe13districts.TheGPsthroughUWSSCsarefullyresponsibleforSingleVillageScheme(SVS)andintra-villageMultiVillageScheme(MVS).ThesectorinstitutionsareresponsibleforbulkwatersupplyundertheMVS.Thewatersupplyschemesare integrated with catchment areaprograms,householdandvillageenvironmentalsanitationprograms,solidwastemanagement and health and hygieneawarenesspromotionprograms,inordertomaximizewatersupplyandhealthbenefitstothecommunities.Comparedtothepre-projecthouseholdcoverageofsanitarylatrinesat21percent,theexistingprojectcoveragehasgoneupto71percent,adifferenceof50percentachievementasaresultofthe

projecteffortsandtheCentresponsoredTotalSanitationCampaign.TheNGPforcleanvillageshasbeenreceivedby25percentGPs(418GPs)againstthetargetof15percentGPs.

Whileindependentmonitoringandsocialauditsarein-builtintheprojectdesign,theimplementingagencieshavestartedsigning-off,providingqualityassuranceforthecompletedschemes.Also,continuoussupervisionhasbeenintroducedduringtheO&MstagetoensuretechnicalandfinancialsupporttotheGPs.

The district schedule of rates for variousengineeringitems/works/materials(localandnonlocal)arejointlypreparedbyallthethreeimplementingagencies,basedontheexistinganalysisofratesandareapprovedbytheDWSM.Thisscheduleofratesisupdatedonayearlybasisorasand when needed. Thus there is a single set of schedule of rates for each district and for all the implementingagencies.

Thecultureofdependenceonoutsidersforabasicnecessity like water is showing a diminishing trend leading to apositiveindicationofGramSwarajya(villageselfrule),


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inotherwords,‘communityprideandcommunitycontrol’.Robustmonitoringisfollowedtomonitorprocesses,inputs,outputsandoutcomes,includingindicators of change under theproject.Governanceandaccountabilitymeasureshavebeenadoptedasanintegralpartoftheprojectdesignandimplementation.TheSwajalProjectManagementUnithasconsecutivelyreceivedtheRighttoInformation(RTI)award2009and2010fortransparencyandgoodgovernancepractices,whichincludeindependentqualitychecks,communitymonitoring,grievanceredressalmeasures,socialaudits,robustmonitoringandevaluation,andsector-wideinformationsystem,for information disclosure and trackingprogressoftheschemesinallphasesoftheproject.

capacity building of all stakeholders:Capacitybuildingof all stakeholders was essential foreffectiveandefficientimplementationoftheproject.Therefore,acomprehensivecapacitybuildingplanwasdevelopedandincludeddetailedandprogrammedtrainingmodulesfor:i)SWSMandProgramManagementUnit;ii)DWSMsandDistrictProgramManagementUnits;iii)changemanagement and community-developmentskillsforsectorinstitutions;iv)generaltrainingactivitiesforPRIs;andv)trainingofsupportorganizationsandsupportagencies.Specialtrainingprogramshavebeendevelopedandimplementedthrough the local training

institutionstosensitizethestate,districtandvillagestakeholdersand functionaries regarding theproject.TheseprogramsincludemodulesonplanningandimplementationofSVSandMVS,environmentalandsanitation hygiene awareness programsandpractices,financialandprocurementmanagementpractices,etc.

Iec: Theprojecthasprintedbooklets,leafletsandpostersthatprovidemessagesontheproject,includinghealthandhygiene,TotalSanitationCampaign,technologyoptionsforsanitation,useoftoilets,goodpracticecasestudies,informaleducation,alongwithrolesandresponsibilitiesatthestate,districtandvillagelevels.IECactivities,mainlytopromotethedecentralizationagendaandSWApprogram,havebeencarriedoutthroughworkshops,cross-visits,competitions,IECstalls,televisionprograms,etc.Acoupleofshortdocumentaryfilmshavebeenpreparedonthegoodpracticescurrentlybeingimplementedundertheproject.

governance and accountability processes adopted: Independentreviewsareanintegralpartoftheprojectprocesses,includingconcurrent monitoring during theschemeplanningphase,thirdpartyconstructionqualitychecks,technicalaudits,socialauditsandgrievanceredressalmeasures during the scheme implementationphase.Theprojectclearlydefinestherolesandresponsibilitiesofthebeneficiarycommunitiesand

community-basedorganizations,NGOs,independentreviewers,PRIs,SWSMandtheimplementingagencies.

PRI and community mobilization: Theprojecthasmadeacommendableeffortinidentifying,prioritizingandselectingGPs/villages/habitationsforintervention.Subsequently,householdsintheselectedhabitationshavebeenmobilizedintoUWSSCs,sub-committeesoftheGP,whichhaveprovedtobeaneffectivevehicleofcommunityparticipation.Thesupportorganizationshavecontributedsignificantlytowardsmobilizingaswellascapacitatingthelocalcommunities.Usersurveysconfirmfullacceptanceandsatisfactionbythecommunitiesforwatersupplyandsanitationschemesimplementedundertheproject.Sinceitwasrecognizedthatthesupportorganizationswouldplaythekeyroleinachievingeffectivecommunityparticipation,effortsweremade to ensure that they would beselectedandtrainedinanappropriatemanner.

Social audit committee: This committee is constituted in each watersupplyscheme.TheSocialAuditCommitteeperformsthefollowingfunctions:i)ensuresthat all the committees follow the ProcurementManual;ii)reportsanyviolationordeviationofrulestoGP;iii)monitorstheadherenceofprojectprinciplesandrulesinselectionofbeneficiaries,implementationofsubprojectsandalldecisionsofUWSSC.


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grievance redressal mechanism: Theprojectprovidesforcompletedecentralizationinthepre-planning,planning,procurement,constructionandO&MofwatersupplyschemesatgrassrootlevelswheredecisionsaretakenbytheconcernedUWSSCwithassistanceoftheGPandfacilitationbythesupportorganizationandDIA.

grievance redressal at uWSSc level: Onreceiptofagrievance,theUWSSCconvenesacommunity wide meeting and it is putupbeforethemembersoftheUWSSCandthecommunity.ThisprocessisfacilitatedbyDIAandtherepresentativesofthesupportorganizationandtheGP.Itisnoteworthy to mention here that 146outoftotal154grievancesrelatingtovariouscategoriesare already attended to the satisfactionofthecomplainantsincetheinceptionoftheproject.

Allstepsarebeingtakenduringdesign,implementationandmaintenance stages to ensure sustainabilityofschemes.Theprojectiscurrentlyon-goingandaperiodicreviewwillbecarriedouttomonitorsustainability.TheprojecthasdesignedaSustainabilityEvaluationExercisetoassessthesustainabilityofcompletedschemes which are more than one year old. The Indian Institute

ofPublicAdministrationhasbeenengagedtoconducttheindependentstudyonsustainabilityperspectives.ThestudywouldbecompletedbyMarch2011.

Thisprojecthasbeenatrendsetterintheruralwatersupplyandsanitationsectorforadoptingasectorwideapproach.Theeffectiveandefficientfunctioningofimplementingagencieshasreinforcedthehypothesisthatproperorientationandtraining,amixofskills,experienceandgender can work in tandem to achievepositiveresults.Ithasbeenprovedthatthepartnershipbetweenvillagecommunities,NGOsandthegovernment,wherethegovernmenttakestheroleoffacilitationandco-financing,has worked successfully. The projecthasdemonstratedthat the communities can efficientlyandeffectivelyhandledisputeresolutions,materialprocurement,financialtransactions and record/bookkeepinginasatisfactorymanner,whenproperlytrained.Catchmentareaprotectionworksandwatersupplyschemeconstructionworksshouldbeimplementedsimultaneouslysothatthesustainabilityofthetappedwatersourcecanbemonitoredduringtheprojectperioditself.

Theprojecthaslargelydemonstrated that as long as a demand-responsiveapproachisadopted,communitiesarewillingtocontributetowardscapitalcostandplan,implement,operateandmaintain their own schemes. The projecthasdemonstratedthatanalternativedeliverysystemvis-à-visthepresenttopdowngovernment-dominatedsystemisnotonlydesirablebutalsofeasibleinthesector.ThecapacityofthecommunitiesandtheNGOshasbeenupgradedtosuchadegree that the methodology oftheprojectcanbesuccessfullycarriedovertootherdevelopmentareas.Agenderbalanceapproachisimportanttoensurethatbothwomenandmenhavethesameopportunitiestoinfluenceandcontrolthenewservicesandsharetheirbenefits.Observationstudytoursandexposurevisitshavebeenfoundtobeaneffectivetool in creating necessary awareness and in changing the mindsetofpolicymakers.Thepossibilityofmisappropriatingand misusing the funds is minimal iftransparencyateachstageis adhered to and monitored. Irrespectiveofthesourceoffunding,thereshouldbeauniformpolicyregardingcapitalcostsharingaswellasO&M.Otherwisethecurrentsystemsareunsustainable.

Inputs by: kapil Lall, Director,ProjectManagementUnit,UttarakhandRuralWaterSupply&SanitationProject,MussorieDiversionRoad,Makkawala,Dehradun,and

Smita Mirsa,Senior,Economist,SASDU,WorldBank

Notes

Notes

Notes

Water and Sanitation ProgramThe World Bank55 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003, IndiaPhone: (91-11) 24690488, 24690489Fax: (91-11) 24628250E-mail: [email protected] site: www.wsp.org

Ministry of Rural DevelopmentDepartment of Drinking Water and Sanitation9th Floor, Paryavaran BhawanCGO Complex, Lodi RoadNew Delhi 110003, IndiaPhone: (91-11) 24362705Fax: (91-11) 24361062E-mail: [email protected] site: www.ddws.nic.in/

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