Training on Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of Water Security Plans

PRIA organised a two day training on “Monitoring and Evaluation of Water Security Plans” on 20-21 July 2016 at Sahibganj, Jharkhand. The training was attended by 39 participants (12 women, 27 male), which included elected representatives of gram panchayats, jal sahiyas, local cadres and project team members. The participants learnt the significance of monitoring and evaluating schemes, role of elected representatives in planning and implementation of schemes, different methods of monitoring, and indicators that can support communities to monitor the implementation and progress of schemes. They also built specific capacities on monitoring and evaluation of schemes related to water security plans (WSPs).

The participants were informed of the broader context of the work being done on water security planning in the district. PRIA, with support from Arghyam, over two years has been supporting the preparation of community led WSPs in select gram panchayats. Mr. Ajeet Kumar Singh, District Panchayati Raj Officer (DPRO) and Mr. Anil Kumar, Executive Engineer (EE), Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DWSD) from Sahibganj joined the programme, seeking support of all the stakeholders present to help implement activities that can bring about water security to all communities. Ajeet Kumar Singh stressed the important role gram panchayats play in local development. The 14^th Finance Commission has reaffirmed this role of gram panchayats, he added. He applauded the training programme organised by PRIA and shared that the department will soon organise different training programmes for all the elected representatives of Sahibganj.

Executive Engineer Anil Kumar said that the state government was keen to provide safe drinking water to each and every household in the state. He stressed the importance of the monitoring function of jal sahiyas and Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs). Such monitoring should be done on a regular basis, he added. He lauded the community WSPs drafted by some gram panchayats and assured the department’s help in implementing them on priority basis.

Mr. Brijesh Kumar and Mr. Rajesh Singh (associated with DWSD, Sahibganj) gave some important tips to the participants on ensuring safe drinking water in panchayats.