Perspectives on Governance in the India Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector

1. Perspectives on Governance in the India Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector Hemant Khosla, Aidan Cronin June 2012

2. India MDG target (85%) has been reached! 874 1225 227 367 646 857 Population (million)

4. Investment in rural drinking water supply (State + Centre) Source: Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Govt. of India

5. The policy environment - NRDWP • Shift from ground water sources to conjunctive use of different sources. • Emphasis on community-based drinking water management. • Strengthening Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance. • Linkages to other programmes particularly Sanitation & Health. • Convergence of resources and investments with other Government programmes and schemes. • Strategic Plan for Drinking Water and Sanitation for 2010-22 finalised - Stress is placed on drinking water at household level through piped water supply, metering and service agreements

6. O&M of RWS: allocations and incentives • 10% allocation under NRDWP • Finance Commission grants for PRIs to partly meet O&M costs • Incentive to States based on Management Devolution Index • One-time incentive to GPs/ VWSCs • State allocations for O&M of point sources / hand pumps

7. Challenges in rural drinking water sector • Coverage • Moving up the Drinking Water Ladder • O&M is essential to keep moving up the ladder and reflect good governance

8. Challenges.. • Effective groundwater legislation and enforcement. • Strengthening Water Quality Management • Decentralisation/communityinvolvement • Equity, as per NRDWP guidelines • Good governance

9. Factors affecting O&M of Rural Water Supply • Technical design of the water supply scheme. • Leakages / water losses. • Agency carrying out the O&M and its competency. • Establishment and recurring costs; life cycle costs including preventative maintenance and reactive maintenance. • Cost recovery. • Preparedness for emergency breakdown. • SOP – Emergency: Water and Sanitation.

10. Interventions for improved O&M • Segregation of schemes into categories: • Multi-village schemes; Individual village level schemes; Point sources/ handpumps • Working out operational mechanisms and life cycle costs. • Identification of competent organisation/ agencies for carrying out O&M - Specialised agencies/ contractors. • Capacity building at various levels. • Empowerment and Devolution

11. Structured approaches help…… Projects range from 2.5 yrs to 5 yrs Source: Arghyam Presentation at the India WATER Quality workshop & Exhibition, Nov 2011.

12. Life cycle cost of rural water supply scheme Source: Comparison of ten year life cycle costing or rural water supply options in Bangladesh, Dr. Yang Zheng, UNICEF-Dhaka

13. Improved Governance • Good governance triggers Demand responsive approach. • Community involvement ensures quality, impact, sustainability & equity. • Gender issues – how to strengthen? • Social capital building is key to sustainability – successful evidences from WASMO-Gujarat, Gram Vikas-Odisha.

14. Management Devolution Index • Devolution of powers – ownership of water management by the user groups/ community. • Empowerment resulting in decision-making, implementation and management. • Cost - effective implementation, willingness-to-pay • Ensuring monitoring, social audit, transparent mechanisms – high level of satisfaction. • Efficient & sustainable O&M.

15. Summing Up • To improve RWS service delivery: • Financial assessment and viability of O&M systems. • Regular monitoring & quality assurance measures for smooth O&M • Addressing leakages of funds / corruption - Audits: Financial, Technical and Social audits. • Community involvement in planning and O&M of different types of schemes – especially point sources & individual village schemes • What is the role of private sector for O&M? can it lead to better service delivery, recovery costs, consumer redressal & satisfaction. • Improved Governance can be achieved via participation, monitoring, empowerment, review.

16. Thank you