A Partnership with the Government and Communities in the Water and Sanitation Programs

Community Initiatives in Water Resource Management for Rural Drinking Water Supply

Best Practice Document March 2007 Maharashtra

Transforming water scarcity to water sufficiency has been the goal of the reforms in rural drinking water sector under the 10th Five Year Plan of Government of (GOI). This has signified a paradigm shift in government policy with interchanging roles of the government from a service provider, singularly executing all rural water supply schemes to that of a facilitator, strengthening community initiatives in water resource management. In this approach, the hitherto function of rural communities as mere end- users of water schemes has transitioned to equal partners in the planning, implementation, operation and maintenance of schemes of their choice. Thereby promoting synergy between the community and state efforts through a bottom-up, participatory and decentralized system for water management. Coverage 33 districts. UNICEF Support Capacity building and information, education and In Maharashtra, the UNICEF Child’s communication (IEC) activities in all the 33 districts. Environment Project (CEP) partners with Technical support in 10 districts, viz. Ahmednagar, the state government to facilitate community Aurangabad, Chandrapur, Latur, Nandurbar, Nashik, initiatives in rural drinking water sector. In Osmanabad, Sangli, Satara and Yavatmal. many villages, the adoption of new water Cost and Cost Central and state funds only for capital costs. harvesting technologies combined with Sharing Community contribution for partial sharing of conventional mechanisms of recharging capital costs and full responsibility for operation and drinking water resources have significantly maintenance costs. UNICEF funding for capacity building increased the availability and access to water and IEC activities as well as technical support. catalyzing drinking water security. At the same time, this has impacted community Implemented by Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) innovations for disciplined and regulated under the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) at the village water use and altering water consumption level. Coordinated by the District Water Management practices. and Sanitation Committees (DWMSCs) under the Zilla Parishads (ZPs). This best practice document is based on the Technology Roof top rainwater harvesting, underground canals, field visits to people-centered and community- cement canals, jacket well, stream blasting, Gabian led activities in rural drinking water bunds, gully plugging, etc. management in two villages each in the districts of Ahmednagar, Sangli and Satara United Nations Children’s Fund in Maharashtra. 19, Parsi Panchayat Road Andheri (East), Mumbai - 400069 systems for the end-users – to that of a facilitator of community initiatives. The sector reforms cumulatively underpinned a decentralized service delivery system coupled with a bottom-up approach.

Within the next three years, several pilot projects were initiated in more than 60 districts across various states in the country as part of the Sector Reforms Project. These projects piloted the conditions that people would be willing to pay partial capital costs and fully operate and maintain water supply schemes Community efforts in rainwater harvesting recharge village ponds. if (a) they own the assets, (b) they (Nagewadi village, .) have themselves planned and installed the systems and been Glossary of local terms actively involved throughout Anganwadi–Early childhood education centers; Gram Panchayat–Village local the implementation process, self-governing body; Gram Sabha–Village meeting; Panchayat Samiti–Panchayat committee at block level; Sarpanch–Gram Panchayat head; Zilla Parishad–District council (c) they have been trained to do at district level; simple repairs, (d) they know the Government will not maintain Background participatory and demand the assets, (e) they have sufficient In 1999, the Government of India responsive approach, wherein the funds for maintenance, and (f) (GOI) initiated reforms in the rural users obtained the level of service they have to pay for operation drinking water sector to ensure they desired and could afford to and maintenance of the systems. sustainability of water supply pay part of the capital cost and full Therefore, it was considered systems and programs. This was operation and maintenance cost necessary to institutionalize motivated by the recognition thereby generating a sentiment of community based rural drinking that despite substantial state ownership among them. The key water supply programs with the investment in rural drinking concepts of the reforms focused Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) water supply infrastructure on changing the roles of both the to generate resources and equip and systems, a large number of end-users or local communities local communities to effectively these schemes failed due to poor and the state. The role of the plan, implement, use, maintain operation and maintenance in community was increased to and repair water supply schemes the post construction phase, as build their participation in the themselves. Consequently, the they critically lacked integration planning, design, implementation, adoption of the sector reforms of the demands or preferences of operation and maintenance of highlighted the urgency in the end-users. The sector reforms schemes of their choice, while promoting a strong convergence thus marked a paradigm shift the role of the government was in government and community in the Government’s hitherto transformed from a service initiatives, social mobilization, target-based and supply-driven provider – that singularly designed and capacity building of the approach towards a distinct and executed all rural water supply community and its institutions.

2 Child’s Environment Project The experience of the various Objectives sources by conservative and pilot projects in the rural drinking The key objectives of community non-conservative methods. water supply indicated the water management for rural • Reopening the sources in the need for a holistic approach for drinking water supply are to wells and ponds by increasing drinking water and sanitation ensure: their depth and removing to have additional impetus for • Tanker-free villages. sludge. scaling up of the reform initiative • Equity in access to, and use • Conservative methods like in the entire country under and distribution of drinking underground canals, cement the 10th Five Year Plan. In this water resources. canals, etc. direction, all the reform initiatives • Change in water consumption • Non-conservative methods like in rural drinking water sector patterns. jacket well, water fracturing, were brought under the national • Wa t e r m a n a g e m e n t i n recharge shaft in the well, program of Swajaldhara launched scarcity. horizontal borewell, stream in December 2002. • Gender sensitivity and blasting, etc. enhanced participation of Maharashtra has been among one women. Swajaldhara of the foremost states to implement • Social inclusion. Objectives the changed policy perspective in To institute process-oriented rural the area of rural water management These objectives guide the two drinking water supply initiatives and sanitation. UNICEF-India as a rural drinking water supply that enable the community to have strong advocate of greater equity schemes promoted by the GOM access to acceptable, adaptable, and sustainability of water supply – Shiv Kalin Pani Sathavan Yojana sustainable and affordable through community management and Swajaldhara. safe drinking water system, of water resources promotes based on people’s preferences availability and access to safe water Shiv Kalin Pani Sathavan with their participation in the and sanitation facilities through Yojana physical completion of water its Child’s Environment Project Objectives supply schemes, and taking full (CEP). Among all the 33 districts To increase availability of drinking responsibility for operation and in Maharashtra, UNICEF provides water and water for domestic maintenance of the system. capacity building and information, purpose; and strengthening education and communication sources of drinking water by water Components (IEC) support. In addition, it conservation. The scheme includes The selection of drinking water also provides technical support conservative and unconventional supply technology for any in the districts of Ahmednagar, methods of recharging drinking community is determined by a Aurangabad, Chandrapur, Latur, water sources. number of factors: Nandurbar, Nashik, Osmanabad, • Technical feasibility. Sangli, Satara and Yavatmal. The Components • Site-specific conditions such focus of UNICEF-Government of • Roof top rainwater harvesting as availability and reliability Maharashtra (GOM) collaboration (RTRWH) in the public and of electric supply, level and has been on developing policy private buildings in the village/ quality of ground water, etc. guidelines, systematic planning town. • Preferences and requirements of and capacity building of key • Digging pits in the hilly users in taking up conservation stakeholders, as well as IEC landscapes in the village to measures through rainwater and technical support in the block streams and collect harvesting and groundwater implementation of Shiv Kalin water from them for drinking recharge systems. Pani Sathavan Yojana and purpose. • Willingness of users to Swajaldhara. • Recharging drinking water contribute towards capital, and

Child’s Environment Project 3 operation and maintenance is multi-faceted: comprehensively meet rural costs. • Community empowerment drinking water needs. • Service level as per the user and decision-making in the • Mandatory social audit and preference. choice of the drinking water strict observation of its rules. • Priority for rehabilitation scheme as well as planning, and extension of existing design, implementation, State Approach schemes. financial control and The demand responsive approach management of the scheme. of the state includes: Strategy • Mandatory participation of • Change from the centralized, The key strategy of sector reforms women in decision-making supply-driven approach to in rural drinking water supply is processes at village level. building local capacities and two-fold; viz., demand responsive • Partial capital cost sharing community empowerment. and institutionalizing community (10 percent of capital costs) • Decentralized service delivery participation for sustainability of by the community either in mechanism: shifting role drinking water supply systems cash or kind including labour, of government from direct and sources in rural areas. This is or both, with 100 percent service delivery to support in facilitated within a multi-pronged responsibility of operation policy formulation, planning, approach to ensure convergence and maintenance by the monitoring and evaluation, between state and community users/community. and financial support. efforts. • Full ownership of drinking • I m p l e m e n t a t i o n b y water assets under the PRIs. participatory processes in Community Approach • PRIs vested with responsibilities a decentralized manner The approach to institutionalize and adequate financial coordinated by the district community-led water management and human resources to panchayats or Zilla Parishads.

District Strategy for Combating Water Scarcity

The Sangli district administration sprang to its toes (Tasgaon block), whereas Advocate Babasaheb with the wake up call from the District Collector Mullik of the Shreyas Charitable Trust appealed to Ms. Manisha Mheiskar in 2003. The district water the cooperative banks to support community water management strategy consisted of revival and conservation projects. This energized consorted recharge of borewells and dug wells through roof top efforts of the various gram panchayats, cooperatives rainwater harvesting; and piped water supply pumped and the district administration to collectively resolve from ponds, rivers and cemented canals. However, that the drought of the year 2003 was the last one lift irrigation schemes were not always affordable for that affected them. ‘Stop and conserve every drop of the villagers. Making water available locally with the water that falls on the land’ was the district motto. initiative of the communities was the only financially This collective synergy has helped the district to turn feasible option. The district administration therefore the water scarcity during the drought period into an took it upon itself to educate the rural communities opportunity for developing water sufficiency. By 2006, on water availability, conservation and rational use, the 208 villages in Sangli district were covered by and concurrently motivate the villagers to initiate community water resource management techniques. and own the water facilities. The district panchayat These villages have access to a minimum of 40 liters supported the community leaders and local NGOs per capita per day (lpcpd) of water. The district effort in organizing gram sabhas to sensitize villagers. is now to increase it to 55 lpcpd, to prepare for greater Balasaheb Honamore of Om Adinath Trust initiated water demands, as sanitation needs increase the water the water conservation campaign in Nagewadi village needs of the villages are also expected to rise.

4 Child’s Environment Project • Institutional strengthening is the key responsibility of the State VWSC and capacity building of the Water and Sanitation Mission at the three-tier panchayats at the state level, supported by the district VWSC is formed in the gram sabha district, block and village panchayat/Zilla Parishad at the meeting with the presence of levels, and community level district level. at least 40 percent voters. The institutions. gram sabha or the community • No subsidy, but partial sharing In Maharashtra, the State Water members voluntarily resolve to of capital costs as one time and Sanitation Department is the give all the rights related to investment in the district/ nodal agency under the Mission rural water management projects gram panchayat. for government supported water to the VWSC. It is ensured that • Integration of water and sanitation programs. It forges all the 12 to 24 VWSC members conservation and rainwater inter-sectoral linkages with key (size is dependent on the village harvesting schemes with departments, viz., education, population) are representatives of rural drinking water supply health, panchayat, rural the entire spread of the village, schemes. development, women and child including its various hamlets • Concentration on collective development, tribal and social (wadis). It is also mandatory to efforts for integration of rural welfare, etc., and technical support have representation of 50 percent drinking water, sanitation, agencies such as UNICEF and women candidates and 30 percent health and hygiene programs non-governmental organizations members from the backward at the state, district, block and (NGOs). classes. The VWSC members gram panchayat (GP) levels. conduct monthly meetings. • Convergence between Decentralized rural water and sanitation Implementation programs by making Government partners all rural drinking water schemes environmental sanitation The District Water Management submitted by the block/gram or 'open defecation free' a and Sanitation Committee panchayat. It helps in community precondition for sanction (DWMSC) is the coordinating sensitization, mobilization, and release of second agency under the Zilla Parishad. communication, guidance and installment of government It comprises a team of technical training representatives of rural funds for community water experts and district level communities for operation and conservation projects. functionaries such as Executive maintenance of drinking water Engineers of the Rural Water systems. Institutional Arrangements Supply Department, district Multiple Stakeholder health officer, district education Community partners Partnerships officer, district social welfare The Village Water and Sanitation The institutional mechanisms for officer, and others to provide Committee (VWSC) under the community-managed rural drinking crucial technical and operational chairpersonship of the gram water supply engage an integration support to community water panchayat head (Sarpanch) is of key partnerships, where the management initiatives. The responsible for the planning, State Government plays the role Rural Water Supply Department, design and implementation, and of the coordinating agency and under the Zilla Parishad, with its operation and maintenance of all community level institutions (gram team of engineers and geologists drinking water supply schemes panchayat or the Village Water and assists the DWMSC. The DWMSC based on the collective choice Sanitation Committee) function as is responsible for the formulation, and participation of the rural the key implementing agencies at management and monitoring communities. The role of the the village level. The facilitation of of all Swajaldhara projects, as VWSC is strengthened by the all rural drinking water programs well as scrutiny and approval of partnership of the gram sabha

Child’s Environment Project 5 for ensuring community approval to all rural water conservation Community Water Management proposals and the Social Audit Institutional Arrangement at the District Level Committee (SAC) for providing the no objection and completion Zilla Parishad President (ZP) certificate to all schemes. The Social Audit Committee has District Water Management & Sanitation Committee (DWMSC) representation from women self- help groups (SHGs) (minimum  Executive Engineer - Rural 30 percent), youth clubs, cultural Water Supply Department Rural Water Supply clubs, etc. and acts as a window  District Education Officer Department to monitor the expenditure of the  District Social Welfare Officer funds allocated to the panchayat/  Senior Geologist - Ground  Engineers VWSC by the DWMSC. The gram Water Surveys & Development  Geologists panchayat assists the VWSC in the Agency coordination and execution of all NGOs physical works. Every fortnight or Village Water and month a progress report is sent Social Audit Committee Sanitation Committee to the panchayat samiti at the block level. Sarpanch Institutional partners In strengthening all community- Gram Panchayat led drinking water supply systems, UNICEF provides critical technical Gram Sabha support in (a) identifying gaps in the provision of safe water, (b) supporting development and communication of policies and facilitate village level participatory schemes and creation of physical guidelines for equitable and rural appraisal (PRA), build assets at the village level. This is sustainable quality water supply, local capacities for construction complemented by community (c) developing capacities of key or repair, and help in project contribution to engender self- stakeholders at the state and management and financial reliance and sense of ownership district levels to plan and manage audits. among them as well as lend Swajaldhara projects, and (d) synergy between state and people’s state level advocacy and IEC Implementation of initiatives. focusing on knowledge sharing Community Water • The Central and State with emphasis on equity, gender, Management Activities governments assist in 90 social inclusion and sustainability Mobilizing Resources for percent of the capital costs. concerns. Community Drinking Water • Community contribution Projects towards the capital cost is Private partners like local NGOs, As a component of the GOI reform a mandatory 10 percent, community-based organizations initiatives in rural drinking water of which a minimum of 5 (CBOs) and trusts also lend sector, the central and the state percent cash contribution crucial support to the VWSC and governments provide majority is essential. The balance is the gram panchayat to sensitize of the monetary resources compensated in kind (land, the community stakeholders, for the development of water labor or materials).

6 Child’s Environment Project • The project estimates ensure Rapid Mobilization of Community Contribution that the capital costs do not exceed 30 paise per litre of “When the Swajaldhara scheme was announced in 2003, the Buvaji water. Mandir Fair was on in our village. It was the time when our women • On the approval and sanction had to walk 600 meters to fetch drinking water from a private well of the community water and the people had to depend on the water tanker for more than three management scheme by the months in the summer. Therefore, it was easy for the gram panchayat DWMSC, the Zilla Parishad to gain community commitment for building water conservation (district panchayat) sends projects. And the villagers agreed to participate right away! The 10 the sanctioned cost to the percent community contribution was arranged from the village festival panchayat samiti at the block fund itself. The time for collecting the community contribution was level, which in turn disburses saved. It took six months for the projects to complete. The villagers the money to the village actively supervised the construction of a borewell, a storage tank and panchayats. a network of pipes for distribution. The construction took place in • The VWSC organizes the scheduled time and estimated cost because of the able and non-corrupt cash contribution of the leadership provided by our VWSC members. Today, none of the 123 community towards the families in the village have to go more than 150 feet away to fetch capital costs. The financial water and 90 percent of the agricultural land is irrigated though we contribution of the villagers strictly use the drip irrigation method.” and the sanctioned amount Mr. Gadage from the district panchayat are Sarpanch, Borban village Sangamner block, Ahmednagar district deposited in the bank account managed by the VWSC. The bank account is operated The Zilla Parishad disburses community water management with the signature of VWSC the second installment to the projects for rural drinking water President and one member. VWSC only after the village comprise involvement of the The record of community is declared open defecation three-tier panchayats (district, contribution in the form of free. block and village levels), social/ labor is maintained by the community mobilization, capacity VWSC. Components of Community building of rural communities and • The government contribution is Water Management communication. Each component disbursed in two installments. The key components of serves as a requisite element for community water management activities and converge together Village Selection for Government Support as a package of fundamental The Zilla Parishad (district panchayat) prioritizes the applicant gram processes to provide a fillip to panchayat/VWSC on the basis of the present situation of the drinking people’s initiatives. water resources in the village. Preference is accorded to the villages where water has been supplied by tankers for five consecutive years. Community sensitization Other criteria include availability and quality of water, rainfall in • As part of start-up activities, comparison with the district average in the previous year, proportion the district panchayats of tribal population in the village and village water tax collection. facilitate the orientation and In addition, whether the village has received any award for village sensitization of the state and sanitation is also considered. The information regarding the water community representatives supply in the selected villages is sought from the block development such as the executive officer or the deputy engineer under the respective Zilla Parishad. engineers, block development officers (BDOs), block level

Child’s Environment Project 7 panchayat samiti presidents of beneficiary households and PRI members on the and affordability with respect focus of community-led rural to how many families can drinking water programs such contribute in cash or in kind as Swajaldhara and the Shiv respectively, etc. Kalin Pani Sathavan Yojana. • Analysis and identification • The village level stakeholders of the community drinking a r e s e n s i t i z e d a n d water projects may comprise motivated to take initiatives construction of new schemes for participatory need or the augmentation and/or assessment and collective renovation of the existing analysis of the existing water water sources. supply systems in their • The design and estimation of respective villages. This each water scheme is on the activity is promoted through basis of community choice. the VWSC and PRI members, However, consensus on the with active participation of most appropriate scheme is Village mapping for water conservation. women. (Renavi village, Sangli district.) based on user affordability and • The role of women in rural technical feasibility. drinking water projects is • To support community-based emphasized since the participatory need assessment, Capacity building and technical collection of drinking water the district panchayats allocate support in the villages is primarily a sum of Rs. 5000 each to the • Training and capacity building their responsibility. Thus, their gram panchayats to undertake activities equip the rural partnership in the planning, a participatory rural appraisal. communities in the planning, execution and operation Local NGOs assist the gram design, implementation, and maintenance of water panchayats during the PRA operation, maintenance and supply schemes, especially exercise. The PRA takes into management of water projects during choice of appropriate consideration the essential of their choice. The rural technologies, site-selection parameters for development communities gain assistance and location of systems, etc. of water resources at the and guidance from the is considered critical for the village level such as the total panel of technical resources success of drinking water water availability and quality, organized by the DWMSC/ projects. cost of treatment, number Zilla Parishad. • Training of PRI members, PRA also an Environmental Sanitation Tool! VWSC members, and users’ groups especially women on “A cleaning drive is initiated in the village in accordance with the comprehensive water supply village cleanliness profile emerging through the PRA. The villagers components. These include are motivated to participate in the execution of such efforts. This various aspects such as: is important so that the project villages are open defecation free to  r e c o r d k e e p i n g f o r become entitled for the second installment of government funds for financial management the capital costs. With this policy, the GOM has ensured convergence and transparency; between the total sanitation campaign in the state with rural drinking  collection of community water programs.” contribution: capital cost Mr. Daddikar, deputy engineer, Rural Water Supply Department share, operation and Zilla Parishad, Sangli district maintenance costs, etc.;

8 Child’s Environment Project development models of Women Show the Way in Wadgaon Amli Ralegaon Shindi and Hivare “The water projects in our village happened due to the initiative of Bazar in the state. The path- women. Earlier during the summer months we used small vessels to dig breaking work of these villages out water from the wells. The soil in the muddy water then had to be in comprehensive community left to settle down before we could pot the relatively clear water. It development including water took us couple of hours to collect one bucket of water this way. The conservation and sanitation women in the village were really agitated and weary. With the help of has inspired many aspiring the school teachers and women self-help groups (SHGs) in the village, villages. they decided to emphatically present their woes in the gram sabha. The old women grumbled that they could not fetch water from the well and IEC activities carry the pots over their heads, holding the walking stick in one hand. • I E C a c t i v i t i e s a n d Others complained that they barely got enough water for drinking and communication campaigns the working women protested that they did not have time to wait for for community awareness the tanker or fetch water from the well. In the gram sabha, the women and demand generation are agreed to participate in the gram panchayat cleaning drives, provided prerequisites for facilitating they were promised adequate drinking water facilities. The VWSC was people-centered development formed with women representatives and the roof top rainwater harvesting interventions. project was proposed to the district panchayat. The women also suggested • Key messages on community that while harvesting rainwater from the roof, a small tank be filled for w a t e r m a n a g e m e n t the household use. That was appreciated by the people. In this way, the projects develop people's rainwater harvested from the houses was used to recharge the three open comprehension on their roles dug wells and three borewells in the village.” and responsibilities. These Madhuri Gunjal, schoolteacher relate to ownership of assets Wadgaon Amli village, Ahmednagar district created; beneficiary share in the capital and operation and  technical issues of material NGO representatives, many maintenance costs; various procurement, contracting community groups from technological options for procedure for physical various project villages water recharging; benefits of works, etc.; have visited community water recharging activities;  water recharging and harvesting technologies ( d u r i n g a n d a f t e r implementation of chosen scheme);  operation and maintenance o f w a t e r h a r v e s t i n g structures; and  water quality testing and monitoring.  Exposure visits help to strengthen cross-learning opportunities, motivate community demand and energize local capacities. With

the initiative of panchayat Community meeting for participatory planning. leaders, volunteers and (Wadgaon Amli village, Ahmednagar district.)

Child’s Environment Project 9 importance of water quality Changing Focus of District Administration testing and surveillance; etc. The vision of the district administration and geographical character • Interactive and participatory of specific districts have guided the rural drinking water schemes in tools such as posters, different districts of Maharashtra. In Satara district, many villages pamphlets, handbooks, have revolutionized water equations inspired by local leadership; demonstrations, public rallies, ready financial contributions from rural communities; and proactive door-to-door canvassing, technical guidance from the district administration. The district messenger drummers, street focus has been on treating water needs for agriculture, domestic plays, folk songs and audio use and drinking in a comprehensive manner. On the other hand, cassettes like ‘Jana Jagaran’ Ahmednagar district with its history of strong water lobbies, sugarcane (public awakening) are cultivation, sugar-cooperatives, and political influence altered its effectively utilized to reach out approach to support more community-oriented water supply schemes to local communities. These and sustainable agricultural patterns. Ms. Prajakta Lawangare, CEO, are supported by independent Zilla Parishad organized workshops for NGO representatives, VWSC initiatives of local villages; for presidents, panchayat leaders, block development officers, deputy example Nagewadi village in engineers and private technical service providers to inform them on Tasgaon block of Sangli district the various processes involved in the development and implementation has converted one bus stop into of community-centered drinking water projects. Handbooks and an exhibition site, where posters guidebooks pertaining to the administrative and technical procedures on water conservation are involved in specific schemes were also produced for the benefit of displayed. All communication various stakeholders at the district, block and village levels. In Sangli and information materials district, there has been a concerted effort by district administration, are prepared in local gram panchayats, local leaders, NGOs and the communities towards language (Marathi) for easy making the villages water sufficient. comprehension and use by the rural communities.

Roof top rainwater harvesting techniques in rural homes. (Renavi village, Sangli district.)

10 Child’s Environment Project Water Needs Bring People Together

Nagewadi is a small village with 146 households in through roof top rainwater harvesting and removal Tasgaon block of Sangli district. The three successive of leakage from the village percolation tank. By the drought years starting from 2001 had severally end of 2003, the Nagewadi gram sabha submitted affected the drinking water sources in the village. The the proposal with the project cost of Rs.11,39,411 single dug well of the village went dry by December inclusive of 10 percent community contribution to and the four hand pumps also supplied water only till the district panchayat. January each year. The levels of water in the borewells providing drinking water were also depleted to about In the first phase, the sanction for the roof top rainwater 70-80 m below ground level. Sanjay Shinde, a gram harvesting structures with a total cost of Rs.6,08,097 sabha member recalls, “Our village was supplied water was approved in February 2004. Before the advent with tankers for at least four to eight months for four of the monsoons, the community worked tenaciously years from 2001 to 2004. During the drought period, over the next four months and ninety houses in the we had to spend almost eight hours during the day village with slanting roofs were covered under the to collect four pots of water. It was a real ‘dushkaal’ roof top rainwater harvesting system and connected (difficult time) for the village. There was no cattle to 12 borewells. It is estimated that rainwater from feed in the village and all agricultural activity was at a 500 sq. ft roof area is harvested for recharging one stand still. The drought had taken away our only source borewell. The Nagewadi community organized its share of livelihood!” of 10 percent contribution with a combination of five percent in cash (Rs.26,500 of the total expenditure In the middle of 2003, the engineers of the rural of Rs.5,03,723) and the remaining through voluntary drinking water supply department and geologists of physical labor (shram daan). the Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency (GSDA) under the Sangli Zilla Parishad surveyed the In 2004, despite a 70 percent shortfall in the average village area with the local community to assess the rainfall, within three days of precipitation the technical feasibility for different water conservation community developed roof top rainwater harvesting structures under the Shiv Kalin Pani Sathavan Yojna. system helped to recharge all the 12 borewells and This interaction helped to organize and sensitize the water tankers stopped plying to the village. With the rural communities on the feasible option of roof the increased water availability in the village, the top rainwater harvesting to recharge the drinking wastewater from the domestic households was recycled water borewells in the village. With the collective and used for construction of toilets to make the village efforts of the PRI members and Om Adinath Trust, a a Nirmal Gram (open defecation free) within the next local NGO, the people of Nagewadi formed the VWSC three months. with 13 members, with 50 percent representation of women. The Trust provided training to the villagers on building roof top rainwater harvesting structures By the end of 2006, Nagewadi’s water situation had as well as other water conservation mechanisms to completely altered. The renovation of the village check surface water run-off such as digging trenches percolation tank and the roof top rainwater harvesting on village grazing lands and wastelands, contour system has led to a visible rise in the groundwater bunding on farmlands, and gully plugging and cement levels with water available at 7 m below ground bunds to recharge the groundwater. It also provided level, even during the summer months. The successful technical support to the community in drawing up implementation of community water management the cost estimates and detailed plans for developing projects has considerably changed the water regime a project proposal to recharge a power pump borewell of Nagewadi.

Child’s Environment Project 11 Monitoring rainfall season for optimum Monitoring of the various "The gram sabha demands water conservation. processes of the community- for inspection of the sites led water management projects selected for water conservation Quality Assurance is critically linked to the projects. The engineers and Mechanisms successful completion of the civil geologists of the Rural Water • The Rural Water Supply works, quality of the physical Supply Department conduct Department under the Zilla construction and community spot inspections after receiving Parishad provides technical ownership of the water resources. community demand. This has support to the VWSC in The GOM has institutionalized helped to develop community- monitoring at periodic vital monitoring procedures that led monitoring procedures." intervals. The district support community supervision Mr. Daddikar, deputy engineer panchayat also provides Rural Water Supply Department and provide crucial technical quality assurance mechanisms Zilla Parishad, Sangli district inputs during the construction of and testing of construction physical works and comprehensive materials procured by the management of water resources, • Procurement of all construction rural communities. These post implementation of water materials such as sand, involve inspections by projects. concrete, pipes and steel is deputy engineers of the line organized by the community department and testing of Community Scrutiny at the village level. However, the construction material • The VWSC supported by the it is mandatory for the rural at government approved Social Audit Committee is communities to make all laboratories. responsible for reviewing purchases according to district • The line department also and giving approval to all the schedule rates as specified by regularly supervises the project activities related to the government procurement quality of construction at the project estimates, purchase guidelines. village level to ensure quality of construction materials, • The VWSC submits a fortnightly control of physical works. The checking the prices and quality financial and physical works inspection of the civil works of construction. They are progress report to the district quality by teams of technical independently responsible for panchayat. During the period experts and engineers in giving contracts of civil works of construction of civil works, the Rural Water Supply and approving the project the VWSC submits three Department helps to make execution. The Social Audit progress reports on the 50, 80 mid-course corrections in Committee with 30 percent and 100 percent completion of case of construction defects. women members monitors all the project. • The technical experts submit these transactions, and reviews • Post the completion of the physical works progress the work and expenditure by physical works; the VWSC reports of the water projects the VWSC. It has the right to is responsible for the in the various villages to the examine the project work as monitoring of the operation DWMSC/ Zilla Parishad. it progresses. It also presents and maintenance of the water In case any defects in the periodic reports in the village resources. For example, in quality of construction are level gram sabha meetings to case of RTRWH projects the reported, it is mandatory for appraise the larger community VWSC oversees to ensure that the respective VWSC to rectify about the progress of physical the beneficiary community the defects before proceeding works, and the technical and individual households with further construction or and financial status of the undertake the cleaning of the release of further payments by projects. roofs and pipes before the the DWMSC.

12 Child’s Environment Project Water Quality Monitoring • The component of water quality testing is an important aspect of all water projects. This is introduced at the inception of each project when water testing is conducted at government laboratories – organized by the Rural Water Supply Department – to check whether the water source is potable. All water projects approved by the DWMSC need to adhere to the water quality parameters set Community constructed check dam across a village stream. by the Central Public Health (Katalgewadi village, Satara district.) Department that scrutinize the water quality for chemical and had on an average 12 water supply water supply. This change from bacteriological anomalies. schemes in their area with about water scarcity to water sufficiency • In addition, water filtration two-third of the rural households has marked a positive trend in plants are also installed at in the state gaining adequate access expanding the outreach, availability the water projects' site at to drinking water. The impact of and accessibility to drinking water the village level to ensure the virtual increase in the critical resources in rural Maharashtra periodic testing of the water mass of rural water conservation thereby reducing the high incidence quality as well as engage the schemes was evident in the year of villages dependent on water local communities in periodic 2004 when the monsoons were a tankers. monitoring. For example, record low in last 50 years and the in the case of RTRWH, the state received only 30 percent of Strengthening Community harvested rainwater is only the average rainfall, but the villages Water Literacy used for drinking purposes with community managed water The focus of the various district after it is adequately filtered. projects had sufficient drinking administrations on facilitating The gram panchayat incurs the cost of all on-site water Nagewadi Village (Sangli District) - Water Budget in 2005 filtration and treatment. Village area 301.5 hectares Impact Rainfall received in 2005 450 mm Transforming Water Scarcity 301.5 x 0.45metres 1,356.7 million liters to Water Sufficiency Water evaporation @ 35% 474.8 million liters Community managed rural drinking Water drains away @ 55% 746.1 million liters water projects have secured dual Percolation @ 10% 135.6 million liters benefits by (i) leveraging technical Water conservation @ 28% 379.8 million liters inputs and new technologies Total water available @38 % 13.56 + 37.98=51.54 million liters supported by the district panchayats Average rainfall 500 mm and (ii) building local expertise and Total rooftop area 5,048 sq. m village ownership of the assets Water made available 16,64,000 liters created. The GOM records indicate Bore recharged 13 that in 2005, each of the 27,873 Source: Display on Nagewadi panchayat building wall gram panchayats of Maharashtra

Child’s Environment Project 13 From Water Scarcity to Water Sufficiency – 11 Water Projects in 3 Years!!

Katalgewadi is a small village settled on a plateau against supply through taps or stand-posts to avoid surrounded by small hills in the drought prone area of any excess use or wastage. Instead, the community Khatav block in Satara district. The 210 households of collectively decided to fetch water from the well. the village mostly comprise marginal or small farmers By 2003, the district panchayat supported the watershed dependent on subsistence farming. Therefore, agriculture treatment plan proposed by Katalgewadi. This led to a alone had never been sufficient to provide economic series of water conservation projects and the formation security to the community. Each family has at least of the VWSC. Under the Shiv Kalin Pani Sathavan Yojana, one member permanently working in neighboring cities a hydro-fracturing project was implemented near for additional income. However, the migratory members the village drinking water supply well. In the upper maintained a strong bond with their village and people. catchment of the rivulet, various water conservation Since 1999, the community has formed the ‘Katalgewadi structures like a cement bund, a Vanarai bund (made of Gramotkarsha Mandal’ a village development group soil and stones) were constructed and stream-blasting where all its members contribute one percent of their technique was deployed to recharge the water source. annual income to the Katalgewadi village development About 30,000-sq m of the village lands were also covered fund. This has yielded yearly community savings of by contour trenching with community shramdaan about Rs. 90,000. Since 2002, the villagers have used (voluntary labor). Similarly, the community cleared a large part of these contributions in building 11 water the sludge from a percolation tank under the Mahatma projects and strengthening the drinking water resources Phule Jalbhumi Abhiyan (people’s campaign for soil and in Katalgewadi. water conservation) and increased its water capacity to Before 2002, water scarcity was a typical phenomenon in 40,000 liters. Katalgewadi. The village had only two dug wells and four Today, there are 11 different sources of water in borewells, which were not sufficient to provide drinking Katalgewadi, which the community has recharged and water throughout the year and the community had to maintained with their own initiative and labour. Three depend on water tankers for almost eight months every of these sources have been tested for potable water year. Even in the remaining four months, the motors on the wells could pump water for only 10 minutes in a day and each family only got two pots of water to meet all their daily needs. This motivated the community to pool their resources and collectively initiate water conservation projects, without waiting for support from the district administration. As Balasaheb Jadhav, the village Sarpanch recalls, “The first step towards water sufficiency was to organize and motivate people. If a neighboring village like Nidhal could develop their village, why couldn’t we? The village development group chalked out a complete watershed treatment plan to recharge the village rivulet.”

With the inception of community mobilization, the people independently recharged a common well that served as the drinking water source for majority of the families. They deepened a private well and released the surplus water from the private well into the village common well. For distribution of water among the individual households, the gram panchayat decided Village well recharged through community initiatives. (Katalgewadi village, Satara district.)

14 Water Resource Management quality and the water has been declared fit for drinking purposes. With the increase and adequacy of drinking “The Zilla Parishad officials can give technical water sources, the villagers have covered their entire guidance and NGOs can help only when the village with a pipeline that supplies water to 45 private initiative comes from the people. Schemes in household connections and 11 stand-posts. The GOM’s Katalgewadi today are need based and limited to Yashwant Gram Samriddhi Yojana (government sponsored existing water resources. The village is now water village development scheme) supported the project cost sufficient, even if it has only 80 percent of its of Rs.7,00,000 with a 15 percent contribution by the average rainfall.” community. Mr. Bhonsle, geologist Rural Water Supply Department Along with the strengthening of drinking water supply Zilla Parishad, Satara district system in the village, the people of Katalgewadi have also laid out a well-planned underground drainage system to divert excess water and recycle domestic the panchayat has banned any new private dug well or wastewater. In this effort, the area around all the stand- borewell. The Jal Saksharata (water literacy) program posts is cemented and the excess water is effectively has led to increased community awareness on the water channelized into the drainage network. In addition, the availability in the village and has impacted a collective domestic wastewater from the individual households change in the cropping patterns towards less water- is either directed to homestead kitchen gardens or to intensive farming. There has been a visible shift towards the village common lands and orchards through the community orchards with the cultivation of fruit trees underground drains. Families that are unable to recycle such as banana, guava, custard apple and papaya, which their domestic wastewater have made percolation pits are given to the children in the village Anganwadi. near their homes to recharge the groundwater. In the last three years, the Katalgewadi community All these community efforts have led to water sufficiency has gained a lot of experience in independent planning in Katalgewadi and the village has drinking water round of water projects. This year, the VWSC has presented a the year. Groundwater is now available at 17-18 feet proposal of a recharge trench for an underground stream below the ground level. To sustain the groundwater table, to the irrigation department.

Key Indicators of Water Sufficiency in Katalgewadi • Tanker-free village. • Perennial drinking water availability in the village. • Eleven different water sources in the village. • Water quality of three sources tested safe for drinking purposes. • All 210 families have access to drinking water: 45 private connections and 11 stand-posts. • Community contribution in all water projects. • Weekly community cleaning drive of water resources with mandatory contribution of each family for two hours physical labor. If a family is not represented, a fine equivalent to a day’s labor value is payable to the village development fund. Village well recharged through community initiatives. (Katalgewadi village, Satara district.)

Water Resource Management 15 tanker-free villages with the of local farmers against cultivating funds for supporting rural water active partnership of the rural water-intensive cash crops like conservation projects only after the communities has introduced sugarcane, thereby significantly village has attained ‘open defecation disciplined and regulated water use reducing excess groundwater free’ status has successfully despite increased water availability exploitation. The benefits of integrated environmental in the villages, marking a visible revived agricultural production sanitation as a prerequisite for shift in rural water consumption have resulted in increased fodder water management. patterns. The water literacy availability and development of campaigns and preparation of fodder banks within the villages. Stimulating Gender Equity water budgets in the project villages None of the villages rely on fodder The enhanced representation have cumulatively resulted in camps or external sources of cattle of women in the VWSC and rigorous initiatives in changing feed. On the contrary, there are Social Audit Committees in each community practices in water use examples of villages like Renavi village and their mandatory and management. Recycling of and Nagewadi in Sangli district contribution in the monitoring domestic wastewater for purposes that have started contributing of all project-related transactions of flushing in household toilets fodder to fodder banks in other has mainstreamed a collective and watering homestead kitchen villages as a gesture of gratitude for shift in community attitudes gardens has emerged as a standard the help extended by them during towards women. Community practice among rural households. the drought periods. recognition of the skills and competence of women has not Replenishing Livelihoods Converging Water Supply only enhanced social respect Security with Sanitation and status of women within The recharge of rural water Availability of adequate water is a their rural milieu but also resources and augmentation of critical need for personal hygiene created opportunities for them groundwater levels has helped to and sanitation, and typically affects to overcome their personal restore agricultural activities and the sanitary behavior of people. The reservations about social availability of adequate fodder convergence of community water interactions with male members. in majority of the villages with conservation efforts with the total This has helped rural women community water management sanitation campaign in the state to develop self-reliance and projects. The loss of agricultural has improved the comprehensive collective identity as productive productivity and livelihood health profile of the villages. The members of their community. security due to successive GOM policy of sanctioning the There is a distinct change in the droughts in the state (2001-2003) second installment of government manner in which women conduct has been replaced by increased resurrection of two-cropping Energizing Social Status of Women cycles. Though majority of the villages predominantly relies on “Our VWSC has monthly meetings with the gram panchayat members. We rainfed farming practices, there has discuss about our village’s drinking water situation. The gram panchayat been a perceptible shift towards installed the five stand-posts in our village only after we (women cultivation of less water-intensive members of the VWSC) intervened and requested that village development crops and increased adoption funds be used for this purpose. The locations of these stand-posts were of drip-irrigation methods. This also collectively decided by consulting other women in our village, so is particularly reflected in the that all families have equal access to drinking water and women do not changed cropping patterns in have to travel far from their homes to fetch water.” the districts of Sangli and Satara Shanta Tukaram Bhonsle and Sindhu Tai Bhonsle – known for mono-cropping of VWSC members, Nagewadi village Tasgaon block, Sangli district grapes – and the conscious decision

16 Child’s Environment Project and perceive themselves and agricultural seasons such as adequate access to good that is reflected in the increased sowing and harvesting or quality construction material self-confidence and self-esteem challenged by the availability of sometimes proves difficult among them. Their significant other daily wage activities under for the local communities, contribution to the decision- the employment guarantee especially in remote village making processes for developing scheme (a government locations. The project cost drinking water resources in their sponsored program) at the estimates is based on district villages has promoted greater village level. It is difficult for the schedule rates that can conflict gender equity and sensitivity VWSC to organize community with the market rates because within rural communities. labor for contributory work of the lapse of time between during such occasions. the project proposal, project Constraints and Challenges • Concerns regarding sourcing, sanction and the execution All community-led development transportation and quality dates. Moreover, there is processes are challenged by of construction material do generally a difference of about constraints during implementation. pose recurring challenges for 20 - 25 percent between the Though the rural communities rural communities. However, rates at the district and state have successfully addressed some complaints regarding such levels. This mismatch creates of these challenges, other program issues are settled within the an additional financial onus related issues remain long-term communities independently on the VWSC or the private concerns. at the village level since there contractors that have to incur is commendable commitment the price difference. Implementation Challenges among the village panchayats • Ensuring equity in access • Lack of consistent unity within and the VWSCs to pursue the to and use of community local communities as a result projects to completion. water resources is challenged of lobbying among the various by instances where after the social groups in villages is one Programmatic Challenges schemes are implemented, the of the recurring challenges • The district authorities or water resources generated are in any community initiated the DWMSC find it difficult selectively available to a few development schemes, which to ensure the appropriate people at the village level. The can hamper or delay the timely use of the project funds by DWMSC feels constrained in implementation of project the authorized persons or ensuring equity of access due activities. VWSC members after the first to the lack of any regulatory • Community contribution installment of the sanctioned role or mechanism in the post in the execution of physical project amount is released. construction phase of physical works is hindered during peak • Timely availability and works. • If a water project in a village does not yield the expected “Auditing of the funds takes place only after the total grant has been results, the local communities disbursed. During the monitoring only the quality checks take place. get insecure about contributing There are no full-proof checks on the quantity of material purchased. to other water management Also at the village level, not many people have enough awareness schemes. Therefore, building about various kinds of taxes. Familiarizing them with the process and the confidence of the rural completing the necessary paperwork is far too complicated for the communities in the various villagers. This process needs to be simplified.” technological options in Mr. Dhase, senior engineer water management requires Rural Water Supply Department Zilla Parishad, Ahmednagar district consistent technical support and community sensitization.

Child’s Environment Project 17 • Local communities also need conflicts within the community greater awareness about the "If the village is united after project completion. impact of water consumption and people are motivated it • The community freedom and patterns on water tables and helps smooth planning and flexibility in choosing from groundwater availability, to implementation of the projects. various conventional and check over-exploitation of On failure of some scheme, unconventional technological recharged water resources. people loose confidence, and options for recharging water do not want to contribute any resources has enabled meeting Lessons Learned further money. People also need the composite demands Community-centered water to have a conviction in carrying created by varying geographic management initiatives foster a on with the conservation efforts. locations and depleted status systematic and integrated approach When people make an effort, of existing water sources in in building rural drinking water the government and NGOs are different villages. projects through the collaborative enthusiastic to support." • The innovative approaches efforts of district administrations Mr. Bhonsle, geologist of building water literacy and rural populations. Rural Water Supply Department and water budgeting among Zilla Parishad, Satara district rural communities has Key Learning of Implementing transformed conventional Community Water a combination of various water exploitation and Management Projects land and water conservation consumption practices. These • The design of community-led mechanisms such as are reflected in the changes rural drinking water projects tree plantations on village in cropping and irrigation is people-centric, catalyzing wastelands, contour bunding, patterns, increased recycling community ownership, self- Gabian bunds, farm ponds, of domestic wastewater and reliance and vision. However, it is etc. signifies their potential introduction of water tariffs to important to ensure community for comprehensive village check water wastage. interest and contribution not development and strengthening • The government policy of only till the completion of the the inter-linkages between land subsidizing the capital costs of physical works or the water and water conservation. water projects on the community harvesting structures but also • The adoption of new commitment for environmental in the post-implementation technological options such as sanitation in villages effectively phase linked to the systematic roof top rainwater harvesting demonstrates that a holistic management of the developed among rural communities approach for promoting rural water resources. The schemes demonstrates the successful drinking water and sanitation are truly successful only if the adaptation of technical inputs, is successful. villagers voluntarily participate community willingness to • The enthusiasm and keen in the continuum of activities develop technical expertise participation of rural that extend beyond the phase and generation of community communities in drinking of planning and execution of demand for unconventional water projects and creation of projects to the periods of repair technologies. drinking water security at the and maintenance of the assets • E n s u r i n g c o m m u n i t y village level signifies that local created, and the equitable consensus on the appropriate communities are capable of: sharing and distribution of water scheme based on the  self-reliance and leadership the resources among the local technical feasibility and for constructive change; communities. collective user affordability  adopting unconventional • The outreach of drinking at the very outset of project w a t e r m a n a g e m e n t water projects in stimulating planning significantly reduces practices; and

18 Child’s Environment Project  challenging exploitative Sustainable Water Use and unsustainable water use patterns. In Wadgaon Amli village of Ahmednagar district, the water harvesting and conservation projects are complemented by wastewater recycling Sustainability interventions adopted by individual households and the larger village. Sustainability of community- A common ‘dhobi ghat’ (community washing area for clothes) has been managed rural drinking water constructed for collective clothes washing. The wastewater from clothes projects is intrinsically linked to washing is stored in a tank and recycled for cultivating an ‘Oxygen Park’ the user choice of technological of ‘tulsi’ (basil) plants. In addition, a community garden of medicinal options in water conservation such plants also thrives on the domestic wastewater recycled through as recharging groundwater and an underground drainage network. The wastewater from the school existing water resources through premises is used to irrigate the school garden through drip irrigation. renovation and rejuvenation of At the household level, the domestic wastewater from cleaning utensils wells, ponds, contour bunding, is used to irrigate homestead kitchen gardens. Similarly, wastewater canal bunds, farm ponds, etc. from the bathrooms is used in the toilets. The toilets in the village or adopting new technologies are constructed with slanting latrine pots to ensure minimal water use such as roof top rainwater for flushing. Moreover to reduce wastage of water, the entire irrigation harvesting. Though sustainability system in the village has been changed to drip irrigation. and replicability of the various technologies in water projects is essentially dependent on the is crucial to ensure community Maharashtra that indicate proactive geographic and technical feasibility ownership of the assets created steps towards sustainability. (site specific conditions, availability as well as encourage community and quality of groundwater, etc.) discipline for regulated water Innovative Methods in of each project, it is nonetheless consumption and use. Regulated Water Use equally embedded in the willingness • As part of the Jal Saksharata and affordability of the users to These key considerations are (water literacy) program water contribute towards their operation, reflected in the various initiatives budgets are prepared in a maintenance and upkeep. This taken by rural communities in majority of the villages that have initiated water conservation projects. This ensures that the rural communities are adequately aware of the total amount of water available in their village and has promoted regulated use and management of water resources. • Many of the villages with community water management projects have voluntarily introduced water tariff systems to curtail undue wastage of water, as a result of easy access and availability. Renavi was the first village in Sangli district to start a water Poster on increasing groundwater table. (Katalgewadi village, Satara district.) tariff system.

Child’s Environment Project 19 • Many villages like Katalgewadi in Satara district have banned the digging of new dug wells or borewells to check groundwater exploitation and increase groundwater recharge to enhance the water table. In some locations, communities have even resolved to use water from borewells only for drinking purposes. • Recycling wastewater has become a common practice in most of the project villages. Domestic wastewater is often used for irrigating homestead

kitchen gardens or orchards Village pond renovated by the local communities. (Katalgewadi village, Satara district.) on the common village lands. also closely monitored, while The future direction of community villages like Katalgewadi water management for sustainable Less Water-intensive Farming have totally prohibited open drinking water security at the village • The rural communities grazing. level therefore signals the critical collectively decide on the need for concerted advocacy on cropping patterns for their The Way Forward comprehensive water management. villages. Cultivation of cotton, The state focus on institutionalizing In Maharashtra, the majority of chilies, etc. has replaced community ownership and the rural households that have widespread mono-cropping initiatives in water management adequate water supply and have of water-intensive cash crops for equity and sustainability of achieved their water supply targets such as sugarcane and grapes. rural drinking water supplies of 40 lpcpd are looking forward to • Many villages prohibit empowers the rural communities reaching the next level of 55 lpcpd. flooding of agricultural fields with technical expertise and tools While there still remain large rural and instead drip irrigation to develop crucial capital and sections in the state that need to methods are being widely social assets at the village level. overcome water scarcity. The GoM adopted. The collective behavior change estimates indicate that in 2005, in disciplined water use and of the 85,930 habitations in the Synergy in Land and Water consumption patterns has the state, about 63,000 or 73 percent Conservation potential to significantly minimize of them faced water shortage in the • Widespread tree plantation exploitative water practices summer months, of which at least around habitations and and build village resources 5,500 or 6 percent were tanker-fed. farmlands has reduced soil that can impact development Consequently, as the foremost step, erosion and surface water across generations. However, the the government priorities need run-off, thereby increasing the sustainability of water sufficiency to target expanding coverage of groundwater table. within the rural milieu combined water conservation schemes to the • Many village panchayats with the expected increase in remaining villages to successfully have banned the use of axe per capita water demands poses achieve 100 percent water supply or sickle for cutting trees or considerable challenge in the coverage in all the 33 districts of grass. Grazing activities are forthcoming years. the state by 2012.

Documentation and design : New Concept Information Systems Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi 20 Child’s Environment Project