Dehradun: The government of Uttarakhand is set to launch the ‘Jalsakhi’ Scheme in order to enhance livelihood opportunities for rural women.Â
As part of the scheme, women self-help groups (SHGs) will be entrusted with responsibilities such as billing and supply of drinking water in rural areas. Additionally, the drinking water department of the state is also planning to involve women SHGs in duties like providing new connections, bill distribution and correction, revenue collection, and maintenance of water schemes.Â
Moreover, the women SHGs will be provided with kits to test water quality and will be tasked with reporting faults in the water supply scheme. The selected groups will be trained as ‘Nal Jal Mitras’ (Tap Water Friends) and will receive an incentive of Rs 10 per bill and a fixed share of the revenue.
As the ‘Har Ghar Nal’ scheme approaches its target in Uttarakhand, this new initiative is an effort to involve the local community in water supply management. It also aims to provide an additional employment opportunity to rural women.Â
APAC News Analysis
The initiative represents a significant step toward integrating rural women into grassroots governance and service delivery, particularly in the water sector. By involving women self-help groups (SHGs) in critical functions such as billing, revenue collection, maintenance, and water quality testing, the scheme not only decentralizes water supply management but also empowers women economically and socially.Â
Training them further institutionalizes their role, ensuring sustainability and accountability in rural water systems. The incentive-based model—with per-bill payments and revenue sharing—offers a steady income stream, aligning with the goals of rural livelihood enhancement.
