(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Making Villages Water Sufficient

(June-2023)

Making Villages Water Sufficient

Introduction:

The availability of sufficient water is not only a crucial prerequisite for transforming the lives and livelihoods of all segments of society but also for the country’s economic growth. India is home to 18 per cent of global human population and 15 percent of the global livestock population. However, it has only 2 per cent land mass and 4 per cent of global freshwater resources.

Background:

Over the years, our demand for water resources has increased manifold, not only due to demographic pressure but also for multiple purposes of its use, i.e., drinking water, irrigation, recreation, and infrastructure.
Growing demand for water on the one hand and depletion of water due to climate change, competitive extraction on the other hand, efficient and sustainable use of scarce water resources is of utmost importance.
Towards this goal, various efforts are being undertaken, including rejuvenation of inactive water bodies, construction of water recharge pits, promotion of rainwater harvesting, treatment of waste water and so on. Under national flagship schemes, such as the Mahatma Gandhi-NREGA, and Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) many activities are taken up for sustainable and efficient water resource management.

Envisioning Water Sufficient Village

The stated vision under theme 4- ‘Water Sufficient Village’ is, ‘A village with functional house tap connections to all, with targeted standard of quality water supply, good water management and abundant water availability for agriculture and all needs, and conserving its water ecosystem’. It addresses both quantitative and qualitative challenges to water resources.
Due to climate change, over the years, we have witnessed uncertainty and erratic rainfall, and water bodies disappearing. Availability of quality water is also a critical issue. In rural areas, the health burden of poor water quality is enormous. Rural masses, especially children are often affected by waterborne diseases and die of diarrhoea.
The problem of chemical contamination is also prevalent in India. The major chemical parameters of concern are fluoride and arsenic. Iron is also emerging as a major problem with many habitations showing excess iron in the water samples.

The 17 UN- SDGs have been remapped into 9 broad themes –

Theme 1 – Poverty free and enhanced livelihood villages.
Theme 2 – Healthy village.
Theme 3 – Child-friendly village.
Theme 4 – Water sufficient village.
Theme 5 – Clean and green village.
Theme 6 – Self-sufficient infrastructure in the village.
Theme 7 – Socially secured village.
Theme 8 – Village with good governance.
Theme 9 – Engendered Development in village.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has brought out LSDGs in PRIs (Panchayati Raj Institutions). The GoI has approved Rs 5911 cr. under the revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY), which is aimed at empowering 2,78,000 PRIs or elected rural local governments to implement a set of social goals that the United Nations has deemed necessary for sustainable development.

Water Sufficient Village

Theme 4 of the LSDGs- Water Sufficient Village is related to many other SDGs. For example, lack of adequate water for irrigation leads to low income for marginal farmers and landless labourers dependent on agriculture and it is likely that their livelihood will fall below the poverty line (SDG 1-Zero Poverty), adequate water for irrigation will increase the agricultural productivity (SDG 2- Zero Hunger) and so on.

Theme 4 – Water Sufficient Village is multi-dimensional and directly related to health, education, gender equality, sustainable and efficient use of natural resources etc.
Under Theme 4, there are 9 sub-goals that have been set with 25 Modified GP (Gram Panchayat) Level Indicator to assess, analyse and monitor the progress.

Providing access to clean water to all village households by 2024.
Provide access to sanitation in the villages.
Achieve ODF (Open Defecation Free) sustainability.
Grey water management.
Per capita availability of water in villages.
Construction of rainwater harvesting and recharge works.
Safeguarding of water bodies.
Constitution of Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) in each Gram Panchayat.
Water efficient agricultural practices.

Conclusion

Local institutions such as panchayat has a crucial role to play in achieving water sufficient village. Further, all water related issues are to be mainstreamed in Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). Possibly a nation-wide ‘water literacy programme’ is the need of the hour! The panchayat secretariat can play a role of ‘hyper local platform’ or a ‘point of contact’ by coordinating and closely working with all stakeholders towards making Indian villages water sufficient which will ensure water security for sustainable development with equity.