About the Campaign: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is all set to unveil a progressive initiative “Women for Water, Water for Women Campaign” under its flagship scheme – Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), in partnership with National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).
- This campaign celebrates “Jal Diwali” and commences on 7th November, 2023. It will continue till 9th November, 2023.
- Phase I – shall witness participation from all States/ UTs (barring the 5 States under the Model Code of Conduct), with an expected participation of more than 15,000 SHG women, nationwide.
- Visits to Water Treatment Plants (WTPs): first-hand knowledge about water treatment processes through visits to Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in their respective cities.
The focus areas of the campaign include:
- Familiarizing the women with the functioning of Water Treatment Plants & water testing facilities.
- Promote inclusivity & involvement through souvenirs & articles created by Women SHGs
- Familiarizing & educating the women about the AMRUT scheme & its impact on water infrastructure
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
- It was launched on 25th June 2015 by by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in selected 500 cities and towns across the country.
- The Mission focuses on the development of basic infrastructure, in the selected cities and towns, in the sectors of water supply; sewerage and septage management; storm water drainage; green spaces and parks; and non-motorized urban transport.
- AMRUT 2.0 scheme, which was launched on 01 October 2021 for the period of 05 years i.e. from the financial year 2021-22 to the financial year 2025-26, is designed to provide universal coverage of water supply through functional taps to all households in all the statutory towns in the country.
National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM):
- It was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on 23rd September 2013, to provide self-employment opportunities and skilled wage employment.
- The core idea of this initiative is to empower the poor with the right amount of resources and guidance.
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Significance of the campaign: Women play a significant role in household water management.
- Knowledge Empowerment: By empowering women with knowledge about water treatment processes and infrastructure, women will gain insight into water quality testing protocols, which ensure that citizens get water of the required quality.
- Accessibility: MoHUA aims to enhance their ability to ensure access to safe and clean drinking water for their households.
- Gender Equality: It helps address issues of gender equality by promoting inclusivity and diversity in sectors traditionally dominated by men.
- Sense of ownership: The campaign is to instill a sense of ownership and belonging among women towards water infrastructure.
Water treatment Infrastructure:
- India has more than 3,000 Water treatment plants, with a designed water treatment capacity of more than 65,000 MLD and an operational capacity of more than 55,000 MLD.
- Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) will visit more than 550 water treatment plants, with a combined operational capacity of more than 20,000 MLD (more than 35% of the country’s total).
Conclusion:
The anticipated Outcomes of the Jal Diwali campaign include increased awareness and knowledge on water treatment, a sense of ownership and responsibility, promotion of inclusivity, empowerment of SHGs, positive community impact, and a model for future initiatives.
Source: PIB
November 8, 2023