Water quality in Sahibganj district of Jharkhand is very poor. According to Integrated Management Information System, Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Government of India, there are 412 water quality affected habitations in Jharkhand as of 1 April 2012. The water quality problems include both microbial and chemical contamination. Arsenic contamination is one of the key reasons for poor water quality. The poor water and sanitation (WATSAN) status in Sahibganj is a combination of governance issues, weak and nascent village/gram panchayat institutions and low community participation.

Traditionally, people of Sahibganj used ponds and wells to fulfill their demands related to drinking water. Nowadays they use bore-wells and hand pumps. Since the district is situated on the banks of the River Ganga, the ground water has a higher chance of getting contaminated from arsenic (due to geogenic reasons).

This three-year project undertaken by PRIA uses arsenic mitigation as an entry-point for field interventions with the eventual goal of addressing the larger issue of community based water security by improving WATSAN governance systems. Improving WATSAN governance includes improved technologies, capacities and systems, and better institutional arrangements. Targeted communication, promoting appropriate technologies, and developing capacities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to manage systems is being undertaken.


Objectives
• To develop/improve decentralised WATSAN governance system for gram panchayats and to sustain its positive outcomes
• To support provision of safe (free from arsenic and microbial contamination) drinking water and facilitate access to safe sanitation
• To build a template for replicating the decentralised water security model in other arsenic/water quality affected blocks in Jharkhand

Geographical spread
Six gram panchayats of two arsenic affected blocks (Udhua and Mandro) in Sahibganj district, Jharkhand.

Key components
The project aims to help improve the water security (in terms of quantity and quality) in six gram panchayats (three gram panchayats each from the two blocks of Udhua and Mandro). In line with the broader definition of water security, the project will also seek to facilitate access to improved sanitation in these six gram panchayats. About 30,000 people residing in these six gram panchayats are expected to benefit from this project.

By the end of the project, the goal is to develop a replicable decentralised water security model for implementation in other arsenic affected blocks of Jharkhand.

The project follows a phased approach. First phase involved social mobilisation through targeted communication/IEC campaigns and generating information about the existing WATSAN status in the six target gram panchayats. Baseline information was collected regarding status of convergence among schemes/departments, existing institutional structures and governance systems.

The second phase involved discussions/consultations regarding technology selection and capacity building sessions for PRIs and other relevant stakeholders leading to preparation of water security plans (WSPs). This phase will also include demand generation and developing monitoring and oversight capabilities of PRIs to facilitate safe sanitation.

The last year of the project is underway in which the main focus is on sustainability, advocacy and network building.

Major activities

Year 1
•  Interface with community members and networking with key stakeholders, e.g., PRIs, officials of various departments (drinking water, rural development, panchayati raj, public health, etc.), jal sahiyas, academic institutions and civil society organisations on issues of water.
•  PRIs were mobilised to develop water security plans (WSPs) as part of their mandated annual plans. Apart from organising interface with different stakeholders, training and capacity building programmes were organised. Capacity building in this phase included roles of PRIs in managing water and sanitation, participatory planning, and project management.
Year 2
•  Focus was on providing hand holding support to gram panchayats so that they can implement their WSPs with their own resources. Support was given to gram panchayats and advocacy was undertaken with different departments so that the gram panchayats mobilised extra resources that are available at the block/district level.
•  Capacity building programmes were organised so that implementation of WSPs is effective. Focus of the training was a refresher on project management and asset management (use of GPS in asset management).
A mid-term review was carried out during the 2nd year to refine the project execution strategy. Important lessons from the review were shared with the primary stakeholders at the gram panchayat, block and district levels.
Year 3
•  Regular handholding support to the gram panchayats so that they can develop WSPs on a regular basis and implement those plans.
•  A template for decentralised water security to be developed to replicate/scale up the project lessons
•  Regional meetings to advocate the decentralised water security model with state level officials and policy makers
•  Preparation of two policy briefs
•  A process document demystifying DPRs for the common citizen

Key outputs

• Baseline WATSAN status report of Sahibganj: A baseline report was prepared to assess the current WATSAN status at the project location. The report included existing institutional structures at the village/gram panchayat level and their capacities, systems of WATSAN governance and level of community participation. This baseline information was used to refine project approaches, develop better implementation strategies and support advocacy with different stakeholders.

• Water Security Plan (WSP) of six gram panchayats from two blocks: All six gram panchayats were supported to develop WSPs in collaboration with village water and sanitation committee. These plans were developed at the village level and consolidated at the gram panchayat level. These plans were discussed in gram sabhas/similar forums and included in the annual plan of the respective gram panchayats.

• A framework for decentralised WSP: One of the key outputs of the project will be preparation of a framework/template for community led decentralised WSP, which could be replicated in other parts of the state. This framework will contain various aspects related to planning, implementation and monitoring of the WSP.

• Policy brief(s): Policy brief(s) on key elements of water security and involvement of PRIs in WATSAN. These brief(s) will be used for advocacy purposes.

Year/period
September 2013 to August 2016

Client
Arghyam, India