Dear all,

I hope to be able to move this conversation along a bit. An example from a field visit -

In Odisha, I visited a remote adivasi hamlet in the Debagarh district. There was a sarpanch Bholeshwar Nayak, a middle-aged man, who was literate. He had a few ward members, unlettered. He was ably assisted by Gurubari, the local self-help group secretary and also head of the local water committee. What the ward members lacked in formal education they made up with general knowledge of the terrain and climate. They knew where the water flowed when it rains and the ideal places for installing a well. They understood that having a water source downstream of a toilet would eventually contaminate it, as the village was in hilly terrain. The toilets in their village were on the opposite side of a ridge that divided the village from the wells. On the toilet side, there was a handpump with a broken platform and a spring some distance away that the handpump had tapped, so the sarpanch said. But they used covered wells for drinking water.

A NGO called JEETA, supported by WaterAid, had helped locate and build the toilets all of which were disabled-friendly. The NGOs had given both Nayak and Gurubari extensive support and training on WASH and helped set up the local water committee. The NGO also worked with block and district officials on inclusive WASH, since this was a remote adivasi district.

Their project helped to improve water supply in the village from seasonal to perennial. And provided all households with a hybrid toilet. This took several years because of the remoteness, recognising the process of changing attitudes was slow. The remoteness meant developing in-situ sources for water, and low cost toilet options. An added benefit was most houses got solar panels and a light through a government programme. Apart from the infrastructure, I found the village clean. The adults and children said they washed their hands before eating at least, though were less sure of other times. The toilets seemed to be in use. Handwashing places had soap with soap marks.

This example shows

1. Panchayats need support over the medium- to long-term. One-off training sessions that are usually provided will not do.
2. In addition to training, they need practical support. A series of meetings to work out where to site toilets, source water, arrange for distribution, etc., are needed. This takes time.
3. While the hardware discussions are on, sensitisation about the rights and entitlements are needed so people understand what government programmes can and should provide, and how to get them.
4. People need to understand the benefits of using a toilet and what safe water means. Then they need to be reminded to use the toilet regularly, and handle drinking water safely.

These are some pointers. Will provide more examples soon.
Regards

Dear Nitya.

I am trying to source the Kerala Govtt. Officials for info on support volunteers who aided during floods in 2017, 2018 and at other occasions.

The data will be very useful for us in this aspect.

Well wishes.
Ajit Seshadri.
SuSanA Member

Thanks Nitya,
yes panchayats need to own the responsibility and at the same time it is important that we clearly understand their present capability and potential of how much more capability they can earn through trainings etc. And accordingly we find the ways to meet the rest. We have been working with panchayats for other issues not for water and sanitation because we were not sure that panchayats will be able to deliver for many reasons.

Government is talking to deliver water through FHTC confidently to deliver. I know it is not easy particularly on quality front because typical solution is not going to work solution has to be location specific. I agree with you to go for point of use water treatment, in the short- and medium-term.

We partner with CAWST, Canada for conducting trainings on HOUSEHOLD WATER TREATMENT, COMMUNITY WASH PROMOTION, DRINKING WATER QUALITY etc. We have been conducting trainings for NGOs and practitioners, these modules can be adopted for PRIs also considering their limitations.  

I strongly feel that PRIs should be prepared first to deliver the water through FHTC and water safety planning and based on the performance decision should be taken on quality aspect. Till then govt should recommend and subsidise the adoption of point of use solutions. 

Regards

​Lalit Mohan Sharma
Principal Scientist, Water Research and Training 

Plot No. 34, Sector 44, Institutional Area Gurugram 122003 (Haryana) India
 Office: +91 124 474 4109
 Mobile: +91 9971695930
 Skype ID: lalitmohansharma

Dear Ajit,

Do you have links to these resources for Kerala? Maybe Ashish can help.

Regards,
Nitya

Dear Lalit,

Thank you for posting. Yes panchayats need to own the responsibility for providing basic services. There are many who have a capable and educated leadership. But many lack this. Their strength across states also varies.  The Sehgal Foundation works intensively with many panchayats in different states. It would be wonderful if you could provide a case study and lessons that answer the key questions posed by Dr Baby.

As to FHTC and point of use water treatment, while this is necessary in the short- and medium-term, I feel it points to a systemic failure to provide adequate quantities of water for drinking and sanitation (including hygiene) of the suitable quality. What do you say?

Regards,
Nitya

Thanks for raising this very important issue!
I do agree that PRIs lack skills but I at the same time I believe that until the PRIs own the responsibility and perform, the development process will remain so. Need of the hour is to understand the level of their capability and potential, build the capacity to the level they can perform and do not expect beyond that. For the gap still remaining let us find the different ways.

I feel let the PRIs be given the responsibility what they can do well and find the mechanism for rest. 
For example let PRIs take responsibility of FHTC just to make water available and find solution for quality of water differently. We have experienced that it is difficult to maintain a community level water treatment system for many reasons so why not to shift to household water treatment systems selected for location specific issues. We saw most of the water treatment systems defunct for removal of arsenic and iron. So we innovated and adopted household water treatment system capable of addressing biological, arsenic, iron, manganese and turbidity in water (brief brochure enclosed). We installed over 3000 household systems in Bihar villages.  System is very simple to operate and maintain for a rural household with no recurring cost. All the systems are in use without any failure because technology is simple, reliable and household took the responsibility as they contributed in the cost of the system. At the same time we also trained the households for it.



Best wishes

​Lalit Mohan Sharma
Principal Scientist, Water Research and Training 

Plot No. 34, Sector 44, Institutional Area Gurugram 122003 (Haryana) India
 Office: +91 124 474 4109
 Mobile: +91 9971695930
 Skype ID: lalitmohansharma

Dear Mr. Nitya.

As Mr Asihsh Kmr, has indicated, similar Mitra programs have been done at State of Kerala. 
Details of these programs, are available in experiences at Kerala. May be noted.

Well wishes, 
Prof Ajit Seshadri. 

Dear Nitya,

I am sharing a document on community management of rural water supply prepared by XISS and Australian AID, highlighting the role of 'Jal Sahiya' in Jharkhand. I hope this document will further explain about Jal Sahiyas and their engagement in strengthening the village's rural water supply.

Thanks,

Ashish Kumar

Dear Ashish,

Thank you for this. Just the sort of example we need. Can you provide further details on how jal sahiyas are identified, trained and deployed. What support do they provide panchayats, and where do they get support ie..,PHED or some other entity. I tried finding the information on the website but couldn't. Do you have the link?

Regards
Nitya

Dear Niyta,

Jharkhand has taken decisive steps to strengthen the Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC). A village woman is nominated as 'Jal Sahiya' (Water Mate) to support the VWSC in planning, implementing, and monitoring the village water supply scheme. Jal Sahiya is an incentive-based frontline worker for water and keeps the responsibility of Treasure of the VWSC. Please refer to the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation's official website, Government of Jharkhand for more details.

Thanks,

Ashish Kumar 

Some points to ponder :
1. On ODF :
When there is problem in having ODF facilities in communities,  opt for COD.
ie Controlled open defecation. 
2. On wwt and re use :
When communities do not have apt wwt and management,  
Opt for Dewats process and use a lift pump to transfer compliant effluent for re use in agri- farms.

Bio sludges are used in co composting to make manure.

Happy sustainance wishes. 
Prof. Ajit Seshadri. 
SuSanA Member.

Thanks to Dr Nitya Jacob and Dr Kurian Baby for kicking off a relevant and timely discussion on how to achieve inclusive and lasting water supply and sanitation in the backdrop of two flagship programmes, the Jal Jeevan Mission and the Swachh Bharat Mission . I believe that placing Panchayat Raj Institutions(PRIs) and the Gram Panchayat (GP) in particular as the focal point for the  implementation of these programmes presents a great opportunity to renew and strengthen the commitment to decentralized governance and devolution of funds, functions and functionaries to empower PRIs including the GPs.  This would be the foundation for sectoral growth and coverage and maintenance of services. 

It is evident that 'local governments' being a state subject, the process and progress of devolution has been uneven in the states
[Reference:Devolution Report 2015-16 www.panchayat.gov.in/documents/20126/0/d...a7c4?t=1554884884392].

The gaps in technical resources , capacities and infrastructure  in PRIs that hinder an effective role in the water supply and sanitation sector (and for that matter, in other sectors) is well documented. In order to address these gaps, clarity of roles between the three tiers of PRIs and between PRIs and Line Departments/parastatal agencies / District Administration is to be established . Activity mapping to achieve this has been carried out only sporadically . As a first step therefore,  Activity mapping should be updated at the state level on a regular basis to align with all new schemes, funding sources, programmes and guidelines . The Activity mapping should be formalized with enabling legislation and executed with capacity development interventions .

"Empowering Panchayats with clear roles and authority assigned to different levels through activity mapping, is a strong incentive to build capacity and also to get other prerequisites for effective performance in place" -[Reference: -Roadmap for the Panchayati Raj Page 19 www.panchayat.gov.in/documents/20126/0/P...9981?t=1554872219971]

Thank you 

Vijaya