#30. All Women GPWSC for Water Supply Scheme in Andlu Village of Ludhiana District in Punjab
Issues:
The case study is about Andlu Viilage in Punjab, where lives of people are improved due to provision of water supply to all households of the village. Andlu village is situated in Ludhiana district with a distance of 11 km from the Raikot block on Pakhowal road. There are 421 households in this village, which consists of 223 SC category, 183general category and 15 BC category households. There are 2 Schools and 3 Anganbadi centers in the village. Most of the people in the village are involved in farming activities on their own land. About 33% people of this village have gone to abroad. There was no water supply scheme in the village in year 2010.People faced lot of problems and had to go to other places in the search of water. This was a big problem for the women of the village. Even people were not aware from water-borne diseases and were used to drink water with invisible contamination. During ward wise visits in the village by DWSS Staff and GPWSC members, it was found that there was lack of understanding by people about the need to prevent wastage of water and importance of clean drinking water. In the village, several challenges were faced by DWSS to construct a water supply scheme. People were not willing to contribute any beneficiary share for constructing water supply scheme in the village.
Women Participation
Interventions:
Social staff DWSS tried to generate awareness about importance of potable drinking water and explained about how they can make their lives easier by a good water supply scheme. Door to door visits were conducted by social staff of DWSS to motivate villagers regarding new water supply scheme. Meetings were conducted with women to discuss issues on health, hygiene, water, sanitation facilities, etc. People of the village were made aware of the water borne diseases and ill-effects of contaminated water. Social staff of DWSS tested their water samples and explained them about permissible values of water quality parameters in drinking water. They requested the villagers for their valuable contribution to establish the water supply scheme in the village by giving the beneficiary Share. As a result, people showed interest in this. For obtaining a new water supply scheme in the village, the gram panchayat fulfilled all requirements and a new water supply scheme was sanctioned for Andlu village by the government. Subsequently, the water supply scheme was constructed in the village. GPWSC committee was formed to operate and maintain the water supply scheme. The scheme was handed over to GPWSC on 08-02-2019. The most interesting fact about this village is 100% women participation in GPWSC committee. The goal of 100% water connections has been achieved in the village. The villagers are now happy with the service of water, as water is reaching on even 3rd floor of their house without use of Tullu pump.
Meeting between GPWSC Committee and DWSS Officials
The all women GPWSC is not only sustaining operation and maintenance of the water supply scheme, but also motivating villagers for timely payment for water bills. The GPWSC has Rs. 89702 in bank account. Monthly meeting of GPWSC committee is regularly convened by Chairperson Mrs. Balwinder Kaur. To operate the water supply scheme, Surjit Singh was selected as pump operator by the GPWSC. Trainings have been given by Block Resource Coordinator to pump operator about collection of monthly revenue, water testing with H2 vials and FTK. Training was also given on record maintaining. Now, pump operator is doing his duty in a very efficient way. He is doing 100% water collection from the village. Chlorination of drinking water is also being done by the pump operator on regular basis. To fulfill his basic needs, GPWSC is giving him a good salary every month.
To strengthen GPWSC, social staff and junior engineer of DWSS have given time to time trainings to GPWSC on maintenance of record of water supply Scheme, information about saving of water, importance of clean drinking water, testing of water samples, harm of installing Tullu pump on water connection etc. As a result of these trainings, GPWSC has played a great role to achieve financial sustainability in the village by following proper rules and regulations. Women of GPWSC committee visit door to door and keep eyes on issues related to the water supply scheme. Records of the water supply scheme like Logbook, Complaint Register. FTK Register, Ledger Book, Cash Book, Sub Cash Book etc. are being maintained and updated every month by GPWSC. Details of income and expenditure is entered in proceeding register of the committee after every monthly meeting. An operational & maintenance (O&M) bank account was opened in the name of chairman and secretary of GPWSC.
Meeting between GPWSC Members and DWSS
GPWSC is sustaining the billing process in a very transparent way with the help of the pump operator. The pump operator is collecting all monthly tariff. As a technical member of GPWSC, the Junior Engineer of DWSS gives suggestion on removing technical faults. GPWSC of Andlu village has become capable to remove all technical faults like as leakages, burning of motor, etc. GPWSC is collecting water charges of Rs 100 per month from each household to meet the operation & maintenance expenses of water supply scheme
A transparent wall has been developed, which shows supply hours and timing of water supply, income and expenditure details, etc. As a result of transparency, people of Andlu village have understood the importance of clean drinking and never skip their monthly tariff. Even at the time of covid epidemic, the water scheme was functioning satisfactorily. Various international days such as Hand washing day, Jal Maha Utsav and International Women Day, Teej festival etc, are celebrated by DWSS social staff along with members of GPWSC, so that the villagers can understand the healthy usage of water and need for timely payment of water bills. Thus, all women GPWSC committee has been playing a useful role to run the water supply scheme. Social staff of DWSS are also involved in behavioral changes of people. Regular contact with villagers has motivated people to take interest in water supply Scheme. GPWSC meetings were conducted in localities, where majority of wastage happened. Also, all the villagers were educated step by step by DWSS social staff. Thus, the people of Andlu village are enjoying a satisfactory life by getting pure drinking water.
Outcomes
There is improvement in lives of people in the village due to regular water supply. There is sufficient drinking water supply to schools and Anganwadi centers. Numbers of students in the schools have increased during past few months. Due to supply of drinking water on specified time, female members of the families are able to invest their time on other works. Thus, due to supply safe drinking water of adequate quantity and quality, the villagers are living happily and leading healthy life. During implementation of project and IEC campaign, it was learnt that regular interactions with the villagers by GPWSC committee members and DWSS Social staff was useful to change their mindset towards the importance of clean drinking water and in influencing them not to waste water.
Hal Ghar Jal Certificate
Paani di Kahaani (ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਕਹਾਣੀ) 