To accelerate the goal of a water-secure Bundelkhand by 2030, Development Alternatives (DA), under its Community Resource Management Programme, convened a District-Level Stakeholders’ Workshop on Rural Water Resilience in Niwari, Madhya Pradesh. Held at TARAgram on August 1, 2025, the workshop brought together 58 stakeholders including civil society partners, government departments, Panchayati Raj Institutions, and grassroots leaders.

Opening the session, Mr. Navniit Siingh Chatwal, Regional Director, Bundelkhand at Development Alternatives, emphasised the urgency of integrated, community-led solutions in the face of increasing climate unpredictability and deepening water insecurity in the region. He stressed the importance of local leadership and multi-departmental coordination to ensure equitable and sustainable access to water.

Special sessions led by Mr. Lakhan Lal Tiwari, General Manager, Project Implementation Unit, Jal Jeevan Mission, and Mr. Amar Prakash, State Programme Director, WaterAid India, laid the foundation for a robust roadmap. Mr. Tiwari highlighted last-mile strategies and decentralised governance through Panchayati Raj Institutions. Mr. Prakash focused on village-level water operations and maintenance (O&M), emphasizing behavioural change and community ownership.

The workshop concluded with a keynote address by Chief Guest Shri Lokesh Jangid (IAS), District Magistrate of Niwari, who announced that the district administration and key stakeholders will co-develop a comprehensive District Water Resilience Plan. He also declared the formation of a WASH Core Group, chaired by the District Magistrate and supported by Development Alternatives, to steer planning and implementation efforts. In addition, he directed the rollout of a 14-day Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) campaign in handpump-dependent clusters to encourage piped water use and instructed the Zila Panchayat to address sanitation gaps in the 23% of households still lacking toilets.

The workshop created a strong sense of collective responsibility and set in motion an actionable roadmap to transform Niwari into a model for water resilience and climate adaptation in the Bundelkhand region.