Background

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has been launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, on 15th August, 2019, from the ramparts of the Red Fort. The mission, under implementation, in partnership with the States, aims to enable every household in villages to have Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) in the next 5 years. It is envisaged that with FHTC, each household will have potable water supply in adequate quantity (at least 55 lpcd) of prescribed quality (as per BIS 10500:2012) on regular and long-term basis. To implement the mission, institutional arrangements at various levels have been made and State's PHE/ RWS Departments are to play a critical role. They have to help Gram Panchayat (GP) and/ or its sub-committee to plan, implement, manage, operate and maintain its in-village water supply systems. A sense of ownership has to be instilled in the village community as they are at the centre of this mission. This will require the current programme implementation structure to transform from infrastructure development to 'utility-based' approach, with strategic shift in focus from water supply 'infrastructure creation' to 'service delivery'.

JJM is implemented through institutional mechanism at four levels, viz. National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) at national level; State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) at state level; District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) at district level; and GP/ Subcommittee of GP, i.e., Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/ Pani Samiti/ User Group, etc. In consonance with the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution, GP and/ or its sub-committee, i.e., VWSC/ Pani Samiti/ User Group, etc. are to plan, implement, manage, operate and maintain in-village water supply systems. Decentralized, demand-driven, community-managed implementation of the programme will instil a sense of ownership among the local community, develop responsible and responsive leadership at grass root level, create an environment of trust and bring in transparency leading to better implementation and long-term sustainability and proper operation and maintenance of water supply systems.

Sadhana Education and Rural Development Society (R) is empanelled as “KEY RESOURCE CENTRE L3” (KRC-L3) in national level under National Jal Jeevan Mission, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India to conduct capacity building training and other programmes for Community Level(L-3) viz Elected Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) Members, Gram Panchayat (GP) Officials, VWSC Members, Members of Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs), etc.

Objectives of the KRC

The essence of the National Jal Jeevan Mission is “Building Partnerships and Changing Lives”. Partnership for knowledge-building have been envisaged with Government/ Non-Government institution including universities/ deemed universities/ administrative/ management/ engineering institutions/ training institutions, etc. of repute that would function as Key Resource Centres (KRCs). These institutions would be engaged for capacity building, reorientation of different stakeholders, dissemination of knowledge and information, development of high-quality print and audio-visual content, documentation of best practices, etc. to transform the eco-system of drinking water supply sector. KRCs are expected to partner with NJJM to usher in the 'change management' in the sector so as to provide and sustain viable and functional water supply systems on a long-term and assured basis.

The key objectives of KRCs are as follows:
• Rapidly upscale the capacity building processes and methods using full potential of virtual space;
• Design, develop and implement capacity building programmes for creating new generations of 'responsible and responsive leadership' in water sector at multiple levels, covering the groups;
• Facilitate participants to gain insights, enhance their knowledge, further developing soft-skills, and awareness about new practices;
• Stimulate cross learning about latest technologies, innovations and best management practices in the water sector by organizing field exposure visits for key personnel involved inplanning and execution;
• Development of high quality video and audio reading and learning material to not only make text-centric content more readable, estible and memorable, but also to craft compelling messages, related to water sector, that speak volumes;
• Document case studies, success stories and best practices in the sector for wider dissemination,
• Promote accelerated implementation 'on scale and with speed' by enabling appreciation of professional requirements as well as sensitization to socio-economic, technological environment.

Functions of Key Resource Centres

Functions of KRCs are as follows:
• The KRCs will design course/ study material (high quality audio, video and printed), develop and deliver end-to-end high-quality capacity building programs, including lectures, discussions, interactive activities/ games/ exercises, and course-work. To rapidly extend reach of capacity building programs and to expand the coverage, the focus will be on the on-line courses or other alternate learning methods. Therefore, the selected KRC should have dedicated (own or hired) infrastructure to take up on-line courses in an efficient manner;
• conduct training and capacity building of national and state stakeholders in view of current needs and challenges under JJM, water quality monitoring and surveillance, water and energy audit, operation and maintenance, use of hydro-geo-morphological maps, automation and source sustainability, use of solar energy, monitoring and evaluation, etc.;
• build capacity of different stakeholders to implement appropriate and cost effective technologies that promote community participation and source sustainability;
• provide knowledge support to the stakeholders on the latest innovations, tools and best practices that promote effective and efficient delivery of services and monitoring;
• raise awareness and understanding of the JJM by capacity building of DWSM, GPs/ VWSCs or Paani Samiti members, representatives of PRIs, NGOs, Self Help Groups engaged as ISAs, school functionaries, health workers and other stakeholders;
• consult and design training modules and reference materials based on Training Need Assessments (TNAs) for ensuring effective implementation of the programmes;
• update training content periodically based on feedback obtained from trainees and new developments in the sector;
• organize small and large events like workshops, seminars, symposiums, round table discussions, conferences, meetings, expert talks on issues relating to safe drinking water;
• conduct research and assessments on various issues of drinking water;
• organize hackathons, online quizzes, competitions, etc. to provide greater mileage to JJM in achieving its set goals, etc.

The Capacity Building Training Programmes Conducted by our KRC L-3 (Community Level)

In the FY 2021-22 our KRC imparted two – 4 days residential training programmes under National Jal Jeevan Mission to Grama Panchayat members/ VWSC members and others at Tumkur and Hassan Districts and covered 18 GPs from both the districts on planning and implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission.

In the FY 2022-23 our KRC imparted residential and non residential training programmes in both district and taluk level under National Jal Jeevan Mission to RDWSD AE/JE/Support Engineers, Grama panchayat PDOs, VWSC Members, plumbers, ISA and ISRA staffs and other at Chitradurga, Gadag, Hassan, Tumkur and Vijayanagar Districts and covered on planning and implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission.

Outcome of the Training

From this residential and non residential training programme participants are trained and awared on importance of Safe water and Hygiene, about JJM, Water quality, importance of community participation under JJM, Roles and Responsibility of the stakeholders, Operation and maintenance of water supply schemes, Preparation on village action plan under JJM etc. And From the trainings which we conducted, trainees were more sensitized and started participating and involving in the implementation of JJM more effectively in their Villages.