Swajaldhara

The Swajaldhara Programme was launched by the Government of India in December 2002 under the Ministry of Rural Development (later under the Department of Drinking Water Supply). The primary objective of the programme was to decentralize the delivery of rural drinking water supply by empowering local governance institutions, particularly Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

The programme emphasized community participation, with rural communities involved in planning, implementation, operation, and maintenance of water supply schemes. It also promoted cost-sharing and a sense of ownership among users to ensure sustainability. Under this program 224 water supply schemes were constructed by Swajal between 2004-05 to 2009-10 in the state.

Key Features:

• Community-driven and demand-responsive approach.
• Implementation by Gram Panchayats or Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs).
• At least 10% capital cost sharing by communities (20% for multi-village schemes).
• 100% operation and maintenance (O&M) responsibility with the community.
• Emphasis on water conservation and sustainability.

Key Achievements:

• Empowerment of Local Bodies: Strengthened Gram Panchayats by involving them in water supply management.
• Community Ownership: Promoted a sense of responsibility among villagers, leading to improved sustainability of water sources.
• Improved Access: Enabled better access to safe and adequate drinking water in many rural habitations.
• Decentralized Governance: Set a foundation for future programs like the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and Jal Jeevan Mission.

While Swajaldhara had notable successes in promoting community ownership and decentralized governance, challenges like inadequate capacity at the grassroots level and limited technical expertise in some areas affected its long-term impact. Nonetheless, it played a key role in shaping India’s rural water supply policy.

Beneficiary:

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Benefits:

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