This document discusses Arghyam's experience participating in four government programs in India. It begins by providing context on drinking water provision in India and the increasing role of civil society organizations in collaborating with government programs. The four programs discussed are: Suvarnajala in Karnataka, Sachethana in Karnataka, Pani Thiye Panjo in Gujarat, and Mazha Polima in Kerala. The document examines lessons learned from these partnerships and collaborations, including the value added by NGO involvement, challenges faced, and the importance of formalizing such partnerships through official recognition and policy support.

1. Participating in
Government Programmes
The Arghyam Experience

2. Content
First Published by Arghyam (India) in 2010 Acknowledgements 5
Copyright©Arghyam
All Rights Reserved
Authored by Amitangshu Acharya, on behalf of
Executive Summary 6
Grants Team, Arghyam, Bangalore
Reference, partial reproduction and transmission by 1 Introduction 9
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise are allowed if the copyright 1.1 Arghyam: A Profile 10
holder is acknowledged. Any commercial use of 1.2 Why Participate in Government Programmes? 11
this material requires express written consent from
the copyright owners of the original material 1.3 Arghyam Participation in Government Programmes: A Profile 13
1.3.1 Suvarnajala, Karnataka 14
Further information on the contents of this document 1.3.2 Sachethana, Karnataka 18
& for a full list of publications please contact: 1.3.3 Pani Thiye Panjo, Gujarat 24
Grants Team, Arghyam
599, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar 1.3.4 Mazha Polima, Kerala 28
Bengaluru 560008, Karnataka, India
Tel + 91 80 41698942
Fax + 91 80 41698943
Email info@arghyam.org / grants@arghyam.org 2 Learning from Partnerships 32
www.arghyam.org 2.1 Why collaborate? 32
2.2 Mapping Influence 35
Citation: Acharya 2008. 2.3 Adding Value to Government Programmes 40
Participating in Government Programmes:
The Arghyam Experience,
Learning Document Issue No.1,
Bengaluru, India 3 Reflections and Way Ahead 46
Design by Kena Design, www.kenadesign.com
Print by Aakruthi design and print
on Rendezvous Ultra White, 100% Recycled paper

3. 5
Acronyms and Abbreviations Acknowledgements
ACT Arid Communities and Technologies This learning document is the end product of Information on Mazhapolima was provided by
AMVS Abdasa Mahila Vikas Sangathan project that was coordinated and anchored by the Manohar Rao, Arghyam and P.K Kurian ex Team
Grants Team at Arghyam. It comprised of a series Leader, Mazha Polima, Thrissur. Jos Raphael and
ARWSP Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme
of stakeholder discussions. Such were mostly his team members at Mazhapolima provided
BIRD-K BAIF Institute for Rural Development, Karnataka individual and occasionally institutional in nature. additional support.
BPL Below Poverty Line
CBO Community Based Organisation A rich amount of inputs came from stakeholders Arghyam provided all the financial and intellectual
in Karnataka. Dr. G.N.S Reddy, Vice President & inputs required for publishing this learning document.
GAA German Agro Action
K. Mallikarjunappa, Chief Programme Co-ordinator
GoK Government of Karnataka (BIRD-K), Tumkur, Karnataka who not only provided Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson and Ravi Narayanan
GoK Government of Kerala detailed information on their learning and (C.B.E), Advisor, provided vital feedback, which
GP Gram Panchayat innovations in both Sachethana and Suvarnajala helped to improve the quality of the document.
programmes but also shared their experience of K. Nagasreenivas, Manager, Urban and Suresh Babu,
IEC Information, Education, Communication
implementing the same and issues in programme Manager, Advocacy were instrumental with their
IDRC International Development Research Centre
delivery architecture. Vishwanath Srikantaiah, support and feedback.
KFFFT Kutch Fodder Fruit & Forest Trust Advisor, Arghyam, shared his experience of
MDG’s Millennium Development Goals Sachethana and Suvarnajala, which allowed a closer Rahul Bakare, Director, Grants was extremely
look at these two from various lenses. supportive and encouraging. He made sure that
MKT Manav Kalyan Trust
both human and financial resources were made
MMCU Mazhapolima Monitoring & Coordination Unit
Inputs on Suvarnajala came largely from Manohar available for publishing this document.
MoU Memorandum of Understanding Rao and Sunita Nadhamuni of Arghyam. Their long
NGO Non Governmental Organisation term association with this programme yielded Kumkum Nadig of Kena Design, without whose help
WATSAN Water and Sanitation quality information and insights. Learnings from the document wouldn’t look as good as it does now.
Pani Thiye Panjo, Gujarat, were generated largely
RDPR Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department
by Sabyasachi Das, CEO, Sahjeevan. He took great Last, but definitely not the least, Sunita Nadhamuni,
RGRHCL Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation Limited pains to provide information, even in the oddest who seeded the concept of this learning document
RWH Rain Water Harvesting of hours. K. Nelson Royal, Arghyam helped in fine and was supportive through out the exercise.
RTRWH Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting tuning this section and Dr. Yogesh Jadeja, ACT, Her meticulous review has enhanced the quality
Gujarat helped demystify the technical processes. of this document.
SDMC School Development and Management Committees
SPV Special Purpose Vehicle
VRTI Vivekanand Research and Training Institute
WASMO Water and Sanitation Management Organisation
ZP Zilla Panchayat

4. 7
Also, by supporting NGOs/CSOs and investing in However, the challenges faced by such partnerships
Executive Summary developing their capacities, donor institutions are also immense. The fact that there is no clear policy
helped to instil greater confidence in them. This from the Government that encourages programmes
enhanced the organizations ability to articulate to engage with civil society puts the onus on the
Onus of drinking water provision in independent programme Gujarat and lastly Mazha Polima, an open issues more confidently to the Government latter to prove its value in participating.Often,
India has been vested largely with the State. Both well recharge programme in Kerala. This document related to project conceptualisation and civil society is perceived more as service delivery
Union and State Governments have been extending delineates key learnings that resulted from each. implementation. Analysis also reveals that agencies in such partnerships and their function
policy, technological and financial support for donor promoted activities such as collecting, of ensuring transparency and accountability gets
implementing rural water supply schemes. By the It is generally acknowledged that Civil Society collating and analysing data for decision making, downplayed. Absence of legitimacy also leads to
10th plan, an estimated total of Rs.1,105 billion participation in Government programmes addresses organizing exchange and exposure, developing confusion and affects programme implementation.
had been spent on providing drinking water. Yet, issues of equity and marginalization and thereby and designing systems to track progress, all
at around the same time 2.17 lakh habitations had enables universalization of access. It also generates added significant value to enhance transparency Therefore learnings from this study points out
water quality problems and did not have a safe community ownership over created assets and and efficiency of programme delivery. Most the need for participation to gravitate towards
drinking water source. Huge public expenditure did ensures sustained management. Apart from the importantly, since collaborations operate in a partnerships based on mutual respect. This in turn
not necessarily lead to significant improvement above-mentioned, the Arghyam experience reveals universe of unequal power relations, proactive requires formalizing of such collaboration. Unless
in provision of safe water. Given that 170 million that technical innovations which enhanced efficiency donor involvement creates more dialogic space there is official recognition of Government and civil
Indians still do not have access to safe water, the of drinking water supply and storage assets seems for civil society, thereby restoring the balance society collaboration, suggestions and key inputs
speed, scope and scale of service delivery and its to have been a significant value add. Innovations to some extent. do not get their due attention and rarely get acted upon.
sustainability issues needed urgent attention. Hence, in this domain also generated quick buy in and
Photo Credit: Mazhapolima Team
increasingly Government programmes are opening consequent support. Approaching a problem with
up to the idea of collaborating with civil society multipronged strategies was another. Such an
organisations. Conversely, realising that optimising approach allowed greater flexibility to adapt to
the efficiency of State funded programmes is a better local contexts of demand and capacity. Government
bet to reach out to larger sections of society, civil programmes also seem to benefit when Civil Society
society organizations are also attempting to work Organizations manage to (a) make innovations
with Government institutions and programmes. cost effective and (b) simplify local management
processes of created assets.
Arghyam, a non profit foundation based in
Bangalore has been working solely on water issues In the architecture and mechanics of collaboration,
since 2005. In an effort to achieve its vision of the role of donor organisations emerged as vital.
ensuring safe, sustainable water for all, it has While the Government focus was primarily on
participated in several Government programmes. creating assets (hardware), Arghyam supported
Over the last 5 years, Arghyam has collaborated NGOs concentrated more on social/institutional
in four specific Government programmes. Namely, mobilization and awareness building. In due time,
Suvarnajala, a school roof top rain water harvesting these projects helped illustrate the importance of
programme in Karnataka; Sachethana, a fluoride software activities and the Government recognized
Dr.V. Kurien Baby, Former District Collector,Thrissur,Kerala
mitigation programme in Karnataka; Pani Thiye the same by allocating finances to support software
addressing a local gathering on the merits of Mazha Polima
Panjo, a decentralized drinking water management activities in the succeeding stages.

5. 9
The climate change context has made such launched on 25th December 2002 ushered in the
1 Introduction predictions more real than ever before. paradigm change. There was a perceptible shift in
policy from supply driven to demand driven and
The World Bank Report was a watershed in such a centralized to decentralized modes of management
Onus of drinking water provision in independent By the 10th plan, an estimated total of Rs.1, context. Not only did it focus on need to reform the and implementation.
India has been vested largely with the State. 105 billion had been spent on providing drinking State modus operandi in water supply, it also argued
The Constitution of India in Article 47 clearly water 1. Yet, at around the same time 2.17 lakh for collaborations and partnerships for increased Since water is on the State List (List-III), the primary
mentions that the State has to raise “the level of habitations had water quality problems and did efficiency. Moreover, successful community based responsibility of providing drinking water facilities
nutrition and the standard of living of its people” not have a safe drinking water source2. Hence, water management as witnessed in Ralegaon Siddhi, in the country rests with State Governments. Hence,
and lists “improvement of public health as among huge public expenditure did not necessarily lead to Hivre Bazaar, Hebbali, et al helped to create space a number of programmes modelled on the same lines
its primary duties”. This has automatically entailed significant improvement in provision of safe water. for an alternate water management paradigm with as Swajaldhara have been executed at the State
direct State intervention in providing safe drinking Though resources are still being invested to reach a focus on decentralization and application of Level. These include the Jalanidhi Programme in
water to its citizens. Various State and Centre uncovered habitations, older “covered” ones keeps principles of subsidiarity. Kerala, Jalswarajya Project in Maharashtra, Swajal
aided programmes have mobilized significant dropping off the list intermittently3. Moreover, while Project in Uttarakhand et al. While most of these
resources for this. Through a Centrally Sponsored source security was taken for granted earlier, in Successive policies seem to have moved in favour were possible through external funding from the
Scheme – the Accelerated Rural Water Supply 1999 it too became unreliable. The joint World Bank of such recommendations. The National Water World Bank, UNICEF, et al various State departments
Programme (ARWSP) – the Union Government and Government of India review of water resource Policy, 2002, in its section on Participatory Approach launched their own programmes financed through
has provided funds to State Governments for management in India grimly concluded that water to Water Resources Management 4, articulates State budgets. This includes the Sachethana and
implementing rural water supply schemes. availability in India was “fragile and finite”. clearly that “Management of Water Resources… Suvarnajala Programme aimed at providing safe
should incorporate a participatory approach; water to rural populations in Karnataka and the
Photo Credit: Sahjeevan
by involving not only the various Governmental recently launched Mazhapolima programme in Kerala.
agencies but also the users and other stakeholders…
in various aspects of planning, design, development The Approach Paper to the Eleventh Five Year Plan,
and management of the water resources scheme”5. clearly spells out “ tackling of water quality problems
With a commitment to meet the Millennium in 60,000 habitations affected by arsenic, salinity,
Development Goals (Target 7C) and halve, by fluoride and nitrate by 2009” 7 as key goal. This
2015, the proportion of people without sustainable implies working on a mission mode and tapping into
access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation6, expertise and resources that cuts across sectors.
innovative programmes and projects were recognized Also, civil society is increasingly playing a key role
as need of the hour. Increasingly, the water sector in participating in State programmes and providing
opened up to non State institutions and actors. valuable inputs. It is generally accepted that when
The role of the State in water provision became taken on an equal footing, such participation helps
more facilitative than regulatory. Swajaldhara, in optimizing public expenditure.
1 Khurana, I & Sen, R (2008) Drinking water quality in rural India: Issues and approaches. Background Paper, Water Aid, New Delhi
2 Rural Water Supply & Sanitation, Eleventh Five-Year Plan, Approach Paper, DDWS, New Delhi, pp 2
3 ibid
4 National Water Policy, 2002, New Delhi, pp5, Section 12
Drinking and Livestock water assets created under 5 ibid
Pani Thiye Panjo Programme in Kachchh, Gujarat 6 With 1990 data as baseline
7 Rural Water Supply & Sanitation, Eleventh Five-Year Plan, Approach Paper, DDWS, New Delhi, pp

6. 11
1.1 Arghyam: A Profile 1.2 Why Participate in Government Programmes?
Arghyam is a public charitable foundation setup with on subsidiarity (which signifies local management) Safe, sustainable water for all implies quality with Government in water and sanitation issues
an endowment from Rohini Nilekani and working in and the effective use of technology as enabler. and scale. During early years, Arghyam supported made it challenging. Opportunities were also rare
the water sector since 2005. ‘Arghyam’ is a Sanskrit grassroots organizations in implementing sustainable to come by.
word meaning ‘Offering’. Arghyam works through a combination of project WATSAN projects. However, it was soon understood
grants to grass roots organizations, knowledge that though such projects made a difference to However, Arghyam made serious attempts over
The mission statement of Arghyam reads: building and sharing through the India Water Portal, peoples lives, it could reach only a limited number. the past few years to participate or partner in
promoting new models of water science, technology Given that 170 million Indians don’t have access Government programmes. The modalities of each
Safe, sustainable water for all… and system design, participatory action research to safe water and only 30% of the total population collaboration varied. While participation is defined
and advocacy. have toilets, the speed, scope and scale of service as collaboration through partner institutions,
delivery and its sustainability issues needed urgent partnership signified a direct collaboration with
Specifically, Arghyam projects strive to understand As a small funding agency, Arghyam works primarily attention. Also, key learnings from smaller projects a Government institution, recognized through
and address issues of quantity, quality and access to through partnerships – with Government, NGOs and had potential to add value to implementation of clearly defined and acknowledged roles in formal
domestic water in communities across the country. various types of institutions – for impact and scale. large Government programmes. As such thoughts agreements. Hence while Mazhapolima is viewed
Some of the key principles which guide its efforts Arghyam now collaborates with a diverse range of actors crystallized, Arghyam started engaging more and as partnership, Sachethana and Pani Thiye Panjo
include the recognition of lifeline water as a basic across 17 States in India through more than 60 projects. more with existing Government programmes with denote participation. Suvarnajala is also viewed as
need and also a right, decentralization, community Rigorous engagement with people and institutions the intent of making public investment work. The participation attempted through formal dialogues
participation and ownership, an integrated approach has helped in deepening the internal debate and fact that there is an absence of a comprehensive and processes.
to managing water from source to sink, an emphasis keeping Arghyam closely connected to the ground. institutional framework to make civil society work
Learning was a mutual process. Such collaborations
Photo Credit: Sahjeevan Photo Credit: Manoj Dabas
allowed interaction with experienced Government
staff and highlighted their technical competencies.
Arghyam and its NGO partners brought on board
skill set such as technological applications,
communication, consensus building, innovation,
etc. When such competencies started leveraging
on each other, the success validated the power of
such partnerships.
Hansa Bai, ex Sarpanch Karamta
village, Abdasa Taluka, Kachchh
Rainwater harvesting structures double up as livestock water points next to a dug well constructed
under the Pani Thiye Panjo Programme Kachchh, Gujarat under the Pani Thiye Panjo project

7. Photo Credit: BIRD-K
Children playing next to a roof top rain water harvesting tank,
in the fluoride affected Pavagada Taluka, Tumkur District, Karnataka
1.3 Arghyam Participation in Government Programmes: A Profile
Arghyam, since its inception has been actively participating in State Government programmes for gap
filling support and making strategic funding. Within a short period these interventions have matured,
and transformed from participation to partnership.
Total
Issue Total Funding
Name of Partner Type of physical Funding
Year Region (water quality/ Scale of Work from Arghyam
Programme Institution intervention by State
quantity) (in Rs Lakh)
(in Rs Lakh)
Suvarnajala 2005 Karnataka RDPR & Dearth of good quality 23,000 schools Rooftop RWH 7400 40.7 (approx)
Nirmiti Kendra drinking water and in 28 districts of for covering
sanitation facilities Karnataka 3491 schools
in primary and middle
schools in rural
Karnataka
Sachethana 2006 Karnataka RDPR Fluoride contamination 64 fluoride Rooftop RWH, 1525 58.9
of drinking water affected villages Artificial Catchment
sources in rural in 3 districts of RWH, Groundwater
Karnataka Karnataka recharge, Direct
aquifer recharge,
Training &
awareness
Pani Thiye 2006 Gujarat WASMO, Govt Scarcity of drinking 135 villages in Well recharge, 141 for 142 for
of Gujarat water and poor water Abdasa Taluka in Rooftop RWH and 35 villages 79 villages
Panjo
quality Kachchh district traditional water (as of March (approx)
harvesting, Public 2009)
stand posts
Mazha 2009 Kerala Office of Drying of openwell 100 Gram Open well recharge 1354 58.74
the District in summer Panchayats
Polima
Collector, & Contamination
Thrissur of well water
13

8. 15
Primary School students with their teacher monitoring water levels in the
school’s roof top rainwater harvesting tank in Jadegondanahalli village in 1.3.1 Suvarnajala
Chitradurga District. The RTRWH system was constructed under Suvarnajala
Photo Credit: Gauri Tikota
Area: Karnataka
Districts: Raichur, Mysore, Chamrajnagar,
Chitradurga, Davangere,
Dharwad, Tumkur and Gadag
d h a r wa d
ga dag
Project: Drinking water in 23,683
dava n g e r e
Government schools
c h i t r a d u r ga
Period: 2006 – 2008
tumkur
Funds support: Rs 40.7 lakhs for covering
mysore
c h a m r a j n aga r
(from Arghyam) 3491 schools
The Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Department committees out of its purview. At the operational
(RDPR), Government of Karnataka (GoK) initiated level the programme failed to invest adequate
a massive Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting Program resources into institutional capacity building.
called Suvarna Jala 8, in 2005. The agenda was
to provide safe drinking water for children in Arghyam, aware of these lacunae, decided to take
about 23,683 Government run schools across rural part in this initiative. It realized that providing
Karnataka where there was either scarcity of drinking resources for gap filling would optimize public
water or presence of excess fluoride. The aim was investment. Hence RDPR was approached with an
to provide 1.5 litres of safe water per student per offer of participation, which was accepted.
day. The funds for the programme were routed from
Bharat Nirman allocations for the State of the The earlier focus of RDPR on hardware activities
Karnataka. Suvarnajala was flagged off in the year continued as before. RDPR released funds to the Zilla
2006. However it was soon realized that there were Panchayat (ZP) which in turn transferred the same to
severe inadequacies in the way the programme was District Nirmiti Kendra (or ZP Engineering Department,
being implemented. There was minimal ownership in case there were no Nirmiti Kendra’s in that District).
over constructed assets; they were falling into The Nirmiti Kendra was responsible for setting up
disuse. The service delivery architecture kept school the roof top rainwater system in each school.
8 Touted to be the biggest school roof top rainwater harvesting programme in the world

9. 17
Data Collection
Capacity Building
Baseline surveys;
Water quality
NGO Partners in
assessments
various Taluks
Monitoring
GP/SDMC
Department
Providing RDPR with
Education
status updates post
school visits
District Coordinator
Arghyam
(NGO)
of RTRWH Systems
Training
Coordination
Awareness creation
Management
through innovative IEC
Weak
Advocacy materials; Training of school
17 Model Schools; teachers, SDMC members,
Recommendations children; Development of
to RDPR to strengthen a maintenance manual
the programme
Infrastructure in Schools
Arghyam
RTRWH
Z.P Engineering Department
District Nirmiti Kendra/
of RTRWH Systems
Arghyam’s role in Suvarnajala was to improve the Chitradurga, Davangere, Dharwad, Tumkur and Gadag.
Construction
Coordination
quality of the implementation of the programme in
Strong
these schools. This involved facilitating a network Arghyam pitched in with its resources to create a
Data Information Feedback
Zilla Panchayat
of Rainwater Harvesting experts and grass-roots network of NGOs. The main activities of the network
Bharat Nirman
NGOs who were involved in capacity-building, supported by Arghyam are depicted above.
Implementation
evaluating and monitoring the programme.
Suvarna Jala Yojane10 ran its course from 2005–2006
Funds Flow
A total of 8 districts were taken up by the network to 2007–2008. Arghyam was involved in the
RDPR
which included Raichur 9, Mysore, Chamrajnagar, programme from September 2006 till March 2008.
9 However, a partner’s unwillingness to take this work forward in Raichur led to its dropping off the list of Districts.
This is explained later in the document.
10 Programme

10. 19
1.3.2 Sachetana
Area: Karnataka
Districts: Gadag, Tumkur, Kolar
Project: Drinking water sources in
64 fluoride affected villages
m u n da r g i
Period: 2006 – 2008
pavaga da
Fund support: Rs 58.9 lakhs
sira baga pa l l i
(from Arghyam)
In 1998, BAIF Institute for Rural Development, programme with support from German Agro Action
Karnataka (BIRD-K), a non profit organisation based (GAA) to nine villages in Gadag District. A number
in Tumkur District initiated a programme on fluoride of innovations apart from rainwater harvesting were
mitigation through rainwater harvesting. Though tried out. This included different models on roof
generally focussed on livelihoods and watershed top rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and
development issues, high fluoride content in drinking massive afforestation programmes. The latter was
water supplies in the district and its resultant health based on evidence that latex yielding species could
impacts didn’t escape their notice. The quantity optimally absorb fluoride from sub surface flows.
of fluoride varied between 3 ppm11 to 6 ppm, way Though suitable latex yielding species could not be
above WHO prescribed limit of 1 ppm. Hence, with a found, the afforestation drive still continued since
small grant from International Development Research it would at least absorb some levels of fluoride.
Centre (IDRC), a Canadian Research institution,
they started working on fluoride mitigation by The success of BIRD-K’s work had generated
trying and testing out a number of models with substantial interest in State Government circles.
15–20 families in Mundargi taluk, Gadag district. Mr. Kaushik Mukherjee, the then Secretary RD & PR
These initiatives yielded results and managed Department took keen interest in the programme
provide relief to a large number of people in the and visited the project sites. Convinced that roof
surrounding fluoride affected region by reducing top rainwater harvesting was a practical and cost
fluoride content in drinking water significantly. effective solution to fluoride contamination of
Bolstered by its success BIRD-K scaled up its drinking water, he pushed for upscaling of the pilot.
11 parts per million
An aquifer recharge system constructed under the Sachetana programme
in Sira Taluka, Tumkur District, Karnataka
Photo Credit: BIRD-K

11. 21
However, this took its time. The Government has by As depicted on the facing page, hardware funds
then reposed complete faith in de-fluoridation units, were directly released by the RDPR to the Zilla
2. Artificial/Bore well Recharge
Jatha’s, street plays, IEC, et al
which in reality were not working on the ground. Panchayat which passed down to the Panchayats (on
1. Farm pond construction
Awareness Building through
After a substantial gap since initial negotiations, the basis of estimates provided by the Panchayats)
3. Aquifer Recharge
Arghyam
an implementation framework for Sachethana was in each village where the programme was being
Village Level
conceptualized. The funds for the same were sourced executed. The software costs of BIRD-K were funded
from Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme directly through the Dept. of RDPR. The balance/
(ARWSP). Sachethana envisaged working in 60 gap amount was provided by Arghyam through
Costs (3.5% of total
villages in 4 taluks in 3 fluoride affected districts. a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
programme cost)
Other Software
BIRD-K. As a technical expert in the programme,
The partnership model had roles and responsibilities BIRD-K provided technical support to PRI’s and
clearly divided. While the Department of Rural supervised progress of construction and also trained
Development & Panchayati Raj (RDPR) were to release communities on O&M components. The support
funds for construction (read hardware), BIRD-K from Arghyam helped BIRD-K to organize a number
was supposed to provide technical support, ensure of awareness programmes on need for roof top
operations and maintenance (O&M) and community rainwater harvesting and other methods of tackling
2. Artificial Catchments
Beneficiary Households
1. RTRWH systems
contribution. However, during negotiations with the fluoride contamination and also in monitoring the
Individual
State Government, there was increasing pressure impact of the project.
on BIRD-K to reduce its awareness and capacity
Bird-K
building costs (read software). BIRD-K was aware Sachethana started in 2006 and is slated to continue
that downsizing software activities would comprise till 2010. Arghyam support to Sachethana will also
Technical Support
& Sanction, Monitoring,
Capacity building on O&M
the impact and acceptance of the programme. At continue till 2010. The project will provide clean
this point of time, Arghyam stepped in with support drinking water to approximately 60,000 people in 64
for such costs which were to be incurred by BIRD-K. fluoride affected villages in 3 districts of Karnataka.
Admin and Other
programme cost)
Software Costs
(10% of total
Photo Credit: BIRD-K
PRI
Data Information Feedback
Payment on
completion of RTRWH
structure Systems
Zilla Panchayat
Implementation
ARWSP
Funds Flow
RDPR

12. 23
Artificial catchment for RW
harvest (Rs 22500 per hh)
Farm ponds for groundwater recharge;
2400 ponds @ Rs 6000
(Community contribution 25%)
Key Interventions under Sachethana Fluoride Mitigation Programme
Dilution of underground
aquifer by recharging;
Recharge of existing Rooftop rainwater harvesting 20 dilutionwells @ Rs 2.45 lakh per well
40 borewell Rs 20,000 per well 5000 litres (Rs 22,067 per hh) (community contribution 3%)
All Photos here are provided by BIRD-K

13. 25
1.3.3 Pani Thiye Panjo
Area: Gujarat
Districts: Abdasa, Kutchchh
Project: Development of
sustainable water
resources at
village level
Period: 2007 – 2009
Fund support: Rs 142 lakhs for 79 villages
(from Arghyam)
“Pani thiye panjo”, (loosely translated from Training Institute (VRTI), Kutch Fodder Fruit & Forest
Kachhchi means ‘lets this water be ours!’) is a Trust (KFFFT), Manav Kalyan Trust (MKT) and Abdasa
multi institutional programme that attempts to Mahila Vikas Sangathan (AMVS). In a classic example
address issues of water scarcity through local source of community-public & civil society partnership,
augmentation in Abdasa taluka12, Kachchh district, WASMO (Water and Sanitation Management
Gujarat. The immediate aim is to ensure adequate13, Organisation), an autonomous organisation
safe drinking water14 access15 to 80% of the population established by the Government of Gujarat in 2002,
of the taluka (135 out of 166 villages) through joined hands and committed funds to support the
development of sustainable water resources at hardware costs (also some administrative ones)
village level over a period of 5 years. This will involved in programme implementation.
ideally transform local sources into primary ones
with the external sources as backup. The programme is embedded in a collaborative
institutional framework that pools in financial
The project was conceived by Sahjeevan, an NGO resources from the State and Private Institutions and
based in Bhuj, Kachchh and is being implemented by decentralized knowledge management frameworks
a group of NGOs, namely Vivekanand Research and from CSO’s.
12 Generally, a tehsil consists of a city or town that serves as its headquarters, possibly additional towns, and a number of villages.
As an entity of local government, it exercises certain fiscal and administrative power over the villages and municipalities within its jurisdiction.
It is the ultimate executive agency for land records and related administrative matters. Its chief official is called the tehsildar or talukdar
13 70 liter per person per day
14 The quality parameters will concomitant to WHO standards, http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/guidelines/en/
15 ‘Access’ is defined as a distance of not more than 200m from individual households
Women collect drinking water from a shallow dugwell constructed under
the Pani Thiye Panjo Programme in Abdasaa Taluka, Kachchh, Gujarat
Photo Credit: Sahjeevan

14. 27
The programme is anchored in communitarian constraints and the technical feasibility of their
processes. Pani Samitis, a subgroup of the village proposals needed attention. Hence, PTP consortium
Data Information Feedback
Panchayat 16 (i.e. Village Water Management worked on strengthening Pani Samiti’s in different
(1.42 crores)
Committees) facilitated by implementing NGOs, villages to prepare technical plans. In this they
Arghyam
prepares a project proposal, the quality of which developed an innovative mechanism called Parabs.
Implementation
is assessed by ACT17. The final proposal is submitted Parabs are local youth who were trained by the
Funds Flow
to WASMO, which extends support through hardware PTP consortium on basic geo-hydrology and
financing. water resource planning. They became barefoot
engineers on whom Pani Samitis could bank
Software
(35% of total outlay)
Arghyam provides financial assistance to cover upon for technical guidance. Approximately 30
all soft costs of implementing NGOs. Sahjeevan technical proposals prepared by Pani Samitis
Software Costs
being the nodal agency coordinates activities of the with assistance from Parabs were sanctioned
consortium. The architecture of this collaboration without any additional queries, making it a success
is illustrated on top. story by itself. Apart from strengthening Pani Samitis
Sanction, Monitoring,
the PTP consortium worked on a number of outreach and
Capacity building on
Technical Support &
The work profile was clearly divided between various training programmes cutting across different stake
actors. WASMO has been directly working with Pani holder groups.
(Sub committee of the
Samiti’s in each village. Technical proposals/village
plans prepared by the Pani Samiti’s were approved by By the end of 2009, the programme had reached 79
O&M
Pani Samiti
Panchayat)
Consortium
Coordination
PTP NGO
WASMO provided they satisfied set criteria. The funds villages, created 10 barefoot engineers, revived 54 dug
for implementing the plan were disbursed directly to wells and 26 ponds benefitting approximately 70,000
the Pani Samiti’s. However, Pani Samiti’s had capacity villagers in the water scarce regions of Kachchh.
(1.44 crores)
Suzlon
State and Central
Handware
Programmes
of Rs 12 lakh
contribution
Community
(1.11 crores)
WASMO
Photo Credit: Sahjeevan
16 Village level constitutionally approved (73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution) governance and administrative units
17 Arid Community and Technologies, an NGO with expertise in geo hydrology

15. 29
1.3.4 Mazhapolima
Area: Kerala
Districts: Trissur
Project: Recharge all open wells
to ensure sustainable
access to water
Period: 2009 – 2011
Fund support: Rs 58 lakhs for two years
(from Arghyam)
When translated from Malayalam Mazhapolima Mazhapolima Monitoring and Coordination Unit
means “bounty of rain”. It’s a community based and (MMCU) was created. This monitoring unit would
decentralized well recharge programme, initiated by provide expertise and support for data based
the Thrissur district administration in collaboration decision making. Through informal networks
with the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the District. Arghyam and Districts Collectors office discussed
The idea of this programme was seeded by Dr. V this programme and a collaborative agenda was
Kurien Baby, the energetic District Collector of worked out. Arghyam pitched in to support
Thrissur. Realizing that reducing groundwater tables the MMCU to generate data and strengthen the
and salinity ingress was pushing Thrissur towards an research component of the programme. Through
impending drinking water crisis, he conceptualized a Arghyam’s support documentation of social and
programme to recharge all open wells in the district. scientific processes critical to the programme
This process driven, participatory programme would was ensured.
reduce dependence on a tanker supply based water
regime and promote local management of water. Mazhapolima has helped recharge 2,536 wells
in Thrissur district already and is on its way to
Given that revival of approximately 4.5 lakh open becoming a successful example of decentralized
wells would require expertise and handholding, a water management at an impressive scale.
A well recharge system in place in a household in Thrissur
District, Kerala promoted under the Mazhapolima Programme
Photo Credit: Mazhapolima Team