Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, is a hub of power loom industry and one of the oldest districts in the state. When Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2019, only 36.54% rural households in the district had access to potable drinking water through tap connections. The district became the first "Har Ghar Jal" certified district on July 23, 2022, to ensure 100% Functional Household Tap Water Connections (FHTC) and has achieved saturation with Har Ghar Jal-FHTCs in all 254 villages.
The report ‘Transforming lives in Burhanpur of Madhya Pradesh through Har Ghar Jal Scheme’ deals with the factors that led to the success of the scheme. Burhanpur's success can be attributed to several factors, including extraordinary administration and department ownership, community awareness, and community mobilisation efforts. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Burhanpur Panchayat representatives, water committees, department officials, and district administrative officials have provided functional tap water connections to 66,664 households out of 101,905 rural households within 34 months.
Initiatives have been taken to reduce time required for obtaining permissions from other departments, such as obtaining permits from the forest department for construction on forest land, streamlined processes for the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board, and a WhatsApp group for PHE requirements. The Public Works Department/Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has waived fees for contractors to reconstruct damaged roads during pipeline laying.
The Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) has supported the certification process of HDPE pipes, and discussions have been held with relevant departments to expedite third-party inspections for galvanized iron pipes and motors. The Managing Director of Texmo Pipes and Products Ltd. has prioritised HDPE pipe supply to Burhanpur. Three surveys have been conducted to assess the progress of the mission and the feedback was used to expedite mission activities.
Community participation – Key to sustainability
The Har Ghar Jal scheme is a community-driven initiative promoting ownership and participation from every household. Local opinion leaders and active members of society have played a crucial role in overcoming local barriers and gaining community support. The Implementation Support Agency (ISA) has played a significant role in community mobilisation activities, such as street plays, distributing pamphlets, organising rallies, using advertising vehicles, and promoting community contributions. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) contribute to user fee collection, ensuring easy collection and increased revenue. Operators recruited for the scheme are from the vicinity of the village, further fostering community ownership and involvement.
Regular meetings with contractors have been held to motivate them and address any obstacles they faced. The achievement of Burhanpur is also attributed to the leadership of Shri Praveen Singh Adhayach, IAS, District Collector, who focused on far-flung isolated rural areas and marginalised populations. Village Action Plans (VAPs) have been prepared for all 254 villages in Burhanpur district, adopting a bottom-up participatory approach. FHTCs have been provided to all households, including those from minority and general categories.
Burhanpur district ranks 1st across the Madhya Pradesh state and 5th across the nation in April 2023, with a total mark of 90.039 obtained over different parameters under JJM. ISA have been engaged to provide support to Pani Samiti, including NGOs and trusts, and in generating awareness among the people.
Quality of water
Madhya Pradesh has the third highest number of accredited laboratories by the National Accredited Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) in India, with 150 out of 155 accredited labs. In Burhanpur district, there are two NABL accredited laboratories. The Har Ghar Jal Yojana emphasises the importance of ensuring the quality of tap water supplied to rural communities. The Public Health Engineering Department is working to empower the community and facilitate their engagement in this regard. It is crucial to have timely procurement and supply of testing kits, identification and training of at least five women in every village to use Field Test Kits (FTKs), and report findings of laboratory-based results.
In Burhanpur district, 269 members of a total of 141 self-help groups from 134 villages have been trained for FTK testing. The aim of the scheme is to protect the health of the rural community by providing them with clean and safe water, free from disease-causing organisms or contaminants. The test report includes results of nine key indicators, including biological contaminations, chloride, fluoride, and nitrate as NO3.
Real time monitoring
The use of technology, such as Geographic Information System (GIS) and internet, has improved management and services. Monitoring technology features include sensors for water level, discharge, automatic motor operation, data loggers, SCADA system in MVS, and IoT for data analysis and decision-making.
In the financial year 2022-23, 318 schemes in Burhanpur were reported, with funds allocated under the Jal Jeevan Mission covering Rs. 523.9 lakh in Burhanpur Block and Rs. 537.9 lakh in Khaknar. The Department of Public Health Engineering Madhya Pradesh recognises the Quality Control Unit as the R&D unit, coordinating the selection of State Technical Agencies and testing, sanctioning, and implementation of departmental schemes.
SHGs lead water tax collection in Burhanpur
The District Administration has introduced a new method for collecting water tax from community women in villages. Members of the women SHG group has been trained to collect an average monthly water tax of Rs. 60 from every household in the village. A printed receipt is provided for payment, and a minimum commission of 10% is fixed for the current and previous financial year. If old water tax dues are recovered, they may receive a commission of up to 20%.
The collected payment is deposited in the Gram Panchayat/Village Water and Sanitation Tadarth Committee's bank account by the 10th of every month. The education of these women is valuable to the community, as they are now engaged in meaningful work through water tax collection, providing valuable support and unique contributions to their families, particularly their husbands. The collection of water tax by the SHG contributes to maintaining a continued water supply, maintaining mission components, enhancing community trust, and ensuring the sustainability of the scheme.
Challenges during roll out, execution and implementation
Har Ghar Jal is a large-scale water supply program implemented at the geographical and community levels in Burhanpur, India. However, the project faced operational challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a lack of skilled labour for construction, a shortage of water supply pipes, and difficulties in connecting distant villages. The District Collector of Burhanpur implemented strategic measures to address these issues, with department officials, stakeholders, opinion leaders, and active village members playing significant roles.
The geographical conditions of Burhanpur required additional efforts, labour, and time to ensure FHTCs, particularly for houses situated at higher elevations. The Tadarth Committee, which oversees the scheme in villages, faced concerns due to recent elections and the appointment of new representatives.
Key recommendations to fortify the program include re-orientation/refresher training of Pani Samiti/Tadarth Samiti across the state, prioritising capacity building of masons, motor mechanics, plumbers, and solar energy technicians, promoting advanced-level community ownership, and creating a portal reflecting water tax collected. Regular reviews should be conducted at the block/district/state level to ensure the long-term sustainability of the scheme.
Conclusion
The mission aims to create new employment opportunities for rural people in remote villages, with skilled professionals playing a crucial role in maintaining the water supply infrastructure. A high level of community ownership is essential for the effective operation and maintenance of the water supply system, including timely payment of water taxes. Success stories from districts include women contributing to family income through water tax collection and water pump operators in joint families.
Public Health Engineering, Panchayati Raj department, and District Administration have played a crucial role in achieving the objectives of the scheme, including community ownership and functional household tap connections. The Village Water & Sanitation Committee's ownership is key to the long-term sustainability of the scheme, with quality training resulting in better understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
The Har Ghar Jal Yojana has successfully resolved various problems for millions of people, including improvements in economic well-being for rural residents. The district aims to achieve a comprehensive impact and outcomes through the implementation of this ambitious scheme.
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