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Achieving Water Security in Rural India Water availability for human consumption throughout the year is very important to ensure water security of any village or block, or district. It is a well observed fact that due to various reasons, the water security situation has been unbalanced for the last few decades in the country. In other words, the gap between water demand and supply (throughout the year) is mismatched seriously. Enabling self-sufficiency to each and every village can solve the water vulnerability of the country. Sustainable water security planning along with systemic and scientific interventions at the bottom level is important to combat this problem. What is Village Water Security? Village Water Security (VWS) aims at providing safe, sustainable water for all in a village. It lays emphasis on community owned and managed systems with appropriate institutional mechanisms to ensure inclusion and equity. The idea is to manage water locally, by closing the water loop and thereby reducing the water vulnerability. In many parts of India, the number of rainy days is limited to as few as 10 to 15 days per year or even lesser. This may even result in a form of drought which can last for several years and cause extreme hardship to humans, cattle and agriculture due to water scarcity. It is very important that Gram Panchayats (GP) should be able to provide adequate quantity and quality of drinking water supply for humans and livestock along with agriculture during these periods without the government resorting to emergency measures.
How Gram Panchayats can help to achieve Water Security?
The Gram Panchayats (GP), as leaders and
representatives of the community,
The Village Water Security Plan and its implementation is required to ensure optimum utilisation of available water to meet the needs of various users. It will have information about the existing water supply situation, what improvements in the existing system or new system users need, want and can afford, and how the proposed improvements or new infrastructure will be funded, implemented and managed to ensure that water is available at all times in the village for all households for all their needs. In order to achieve water security at the village level, the Gram Panchayat should plan accordingly and implement appropriate mitigation measures, such as rooftop rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, rehabilitation of traditional storage tanks and conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater. In addition, many parts of India are affected by floods and during this time drinking water becomes a major problem.
In order to achieve this, the Village Water
and Sanitation Committees must plan accordingly and implement
appropriate mitigation measures, such as rooftop rainwater harvesting,
groundwater recharge, rehabilitation of traditional storage tanks and
conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater.
In addition to ensuring adequate quantity and quality of water for domestic users, the Gram Panchayat has a responsibility to ensure provision for all schools and anganwadis, and it must take into account the needs of livestock especially in water quality affected areas where livestock are highly vulnerable to chemical contamination. Visual Characteristics of Village Water Security (according to Handbook for Gram Panchayats, Ministry of Rural Development): 1. Water available for all household uses at a convenient distance from the door step. 2. No one is seen waiting for or carrying water from a distant place. Minimum distance should be 10-50 meters (should not be more than 500 meters). 3. Water is accessible to all. Nobody is denied ‘lifeline’ water (55 lpcd) due to inability to pay. 4. No forced change in source in the last 2-3 years and no migration from village due to water scarcity. 5. Village can consider conjunctive use with 2 sources (ground water, surface and rain) 6. All drinking water sources passing the water quality test at least twice yearly. 7. Community decides on the tariffs fully understanding affordability and financial sustainability of the project. 8. All water related grievances raised by Gram Panchayat attended regularly. ■
Pramod Kumar
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have
to take the lead in achieving the goal of drinking water security. The
Gram Panchayats, through Village Water and Sanitation Committees have to
mobilise communities, educate them and ensure they get the necessary
training and technical support to achieve drinking water security. The
Gram Sabha is the main platform for taking decisions and approving
plans. GP should seek professional help either directly from the
government departments and its experts. 