New Delhi: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) will soon be launching the “Women for Water, Water for Women” campaign. The primary objective of this campaign is to create a platform for the inclusion of women in water governance.
It is a progressive initiative within its flagship scheme, the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), in collaboration with the Ministry’s National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).
This campaign, known as “Jal Diwali,” will kick off on November 7, 2023, and run until November 9, 2023, where women will have the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge about water treatment processes through visits to Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in their respective cities.
These visits will provide insights into the essential procedures involved in delivering clean and safe drinking water to households. Additionally, women will learn about water quality testing protocols to ensure that citizens receive water of the necessary quality.
The overarching goal of the campaign is to foster a sense of ownership and connection among women towards water infrastructure.
India currently has more than 3,000 Water Treatment Plants, with a designed water treatment capacity of over 65,000 MLD and an operational capacity of more than 55,000 MLD.
During the campaign, Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) will visit more than 550 water treatment plants, with a combined operational capacity of over 20,000 MLD, accounting for more than 35% of the country’s total capacity.
Women play a crucial role in household water management. MoHUA’s aim is to empower women with knowledge about water treatment processes and infrastructure, to enhance their ability to ensure the availability of safe and clean drinking water in their households.
This campaign seeks to address gender equality issues by encouraging inclusivity and diversity in sectors typically dominated by men.
The first phase of the “Women for Water, Water for Women Campaign,” “Jal Diwali,” is expected to involve the participation of more than 15,000 SHG women from all States and Union Territories (except those under the Model Code of Conduct). The campaign will focus on:
- Making women privy with the functioning of Water Treatment Plants and water testing facilities.
- Advocating inclusivity and involvement through souvenirs and articles created by Women SHGs.
- Educating women about the AMRUT scheme and the impact it has on water infrastructure.
The campaign aims to achieve several key objectives, including raising awareness and knowledge about water treatment, fostering a stronger sense of ownership and responsibility, promoting inclusivity, empowering Self-Help Groups (SHGs), creating a positive impact on the community, and serving as a model for future initiatives.
Officials from both AMRUT and NULM at the state and city levels will play a crucial role in facilitating these visits. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has called upon all state and city officials to actively engage and support this initiative, representing a significant stride towards involving women in the vital realm of water infrastructure within the framework of AMRUT.
