“Decentralized Governance In Rural Water Sector: The Rajasthan Scenario”

1. “Decentralized Governance In Rural Water Sector: The Rajasthan Scenario” Presentation by Hemant Joshi, Executive Director Dr. Suneet Sethi, Consultant HRD Communication & Capacity Development Unit (CCDU), Water & Sanitation Support Organization (WSSO), Public Health Engineering Department- Govt. of Rajasthan

2. RAJASTHAN–A PROFILE Total Area 342,239 Sq km Districts 33 Blocks 237 Panchayat Samities 249 Village Panchayats 9,168 Cities & Towns 222 Villages 41,353 Total Habitations 1,21,133 Population(2001) 56,507,188 Population(2011) 68,621,012 Urban 13,214,375 Rural 43,292,813 Decadal Growth Rate 21.44 Cattle Human Ratio 1.2:1 The state has more cattle population than human

3. Status of Water in Rajasthan: • Rajasthan is the largest State of the country. • The status of water in the State is most critical. • Rajasthan with more than 10.4% of the country’s geographical area, supporting more than 5.5% of the human population & 18.70% of the livestock has only 1.16 % of the total surface water available in the country. • Out of the total 142 desert blocks in the country, 85 blocks are in the State of Rajasthan. • Out of 249 blocks in the state, only 30 blocks are in safe category. • The average annual rainfall ranges from 100 mm in Jaisalmer to 800 mm in Jhalawar. Average annual rainfall of the State is 531mm. • The State has witnessed frequent drought and famine conditions in the past fifty years. • The per capita annual water availability in the State is about 780 cubic meter (Cum) against minimum requirement of 1000 Cum. It is feared that the availability would fall below 450 cum by the year 2050. • As per the international accepted norms, availability of water below 500 cum is considered as absolute water scarcity.

4. Rural Drinking Water Scenario in Rajasthan

5. Out of total commissioned habitations 47% are quality affected

6. 65% habitations & 47% villages are commissioned with hand pump scheme

7. Hand pump repairing every year ranges from 38% to 72%

8. The revenue is not even 20% of the expenditure

9. Decentralized Governance • Decentralization is the policy of delegating decision making authority down to the lower levels in a set up relatively away from and lower in a central authority • As per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992, it was decided to devolve powers to the PRIs. • The state governments were authorized to devolve these powers.

10. The History of Decentralized Governance in Rajasthan • Rajasthan was one of the major states where the three tiers Panchayati Raj System was introduced on the recommendations of Balwant Raj Mehta Committee. • This was inaugurated by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru on 2nd October 1959 at Nagaur. • Chaudhari Kumbharam Arya (1914-1995) a famous freedom fighter, famous Agrarian leader and parliamentarian was the founder member of the Panchayat Raj system in Rajasthan.

11. Status of Decentralized Governance in Rajasthan In keeping with the spirit of the 73rd amendment, the Rajasthan Government has transferred the administrative controls of five departments with funds, functions and functionaries to Panchayati Raj Department on 2nd October 2010. The departments are: • Primary Education • Health • Women and Child • Social Welfare & Justice • Agriculture The Total Sanitation Campaign was also transferred to Panchayat Raj Department.

12. Schemes handed over to PRIs • Janta Jal Yojna - 5631 (No. of Schemes handed over to Gram Panchayats in the year 2011-12) • Repairing of hand pumps • All the 74 major projects i.e costing more than 25 crore will be maintained by five member committee formed in the gram sabha Schemes still with PHED • Pump & Tank • Regional Water supply schemes • Piped water supply

13. Management Devolution Index Consolidated Position of the State (MDI) S.No. Indicator Weightage Awarded points Remarks 1 Transfer of Functions to PRIs 20 12.1 There are some indicators which have not been reported correctly on the national web site of DDWS due to lack of reporting or wrong reporting. 2 Availability/Transfer of funds to PRIs 50 0 3 Functionaries made available to support PRIs 25 4.6 4 Good Management indicators 5 0.3 Total 100 17

14. State Wise MDI Ranking

16. MDI indicators not considered in Marking • Whether untied grants from State Plan/non plan have been transferred to all GPs in preceding financial year Status: In year 2011-12, Rs. 45 crores has been transferred and in year 2012-13 Rs. 96 crore has been transferred. • Whether untied grants from State Finance Commission have been transferred to all GPs in preceding financial year Status: In year 2011-12 RS.700 crores transferred • Percentage of water charges demand collected by PRIs Status: 100% in case of schemes covered under major projects. • Proportion of blocks where block level Diploma/Graduate engineers are available in PHED/PRED/ZP/BP @ one for 1 lakh rural population exclusively for rural water supply and sanitation Status: 1660 engineers are available. In every district 2-3 Executive Engineers are looking after the work of rural water supply under them 10-15 A.Ens, 20-30 J.Ens are assisting in the work at block level.

17. MDI indicators not considered in marking contd.. Proportion of filled up BRC Coordinators positions Status: In the state 249 block coordinators and 667 cluster coordinators are to be appointed out of which till date 134 block coordinators and 338 cluster coordinators have been appointed. A total of 472 coordinators have been appointed out of 916 i.e. 52%. Proportion of VWSC members trained in RWS functions for at least two days in the previous year. Status: Total 63,500 VWSC members have been trained uptill now. The target for VWSC training in AAP 12-13 is 15000 VWSC members Proportion of NRDWP Support funds spent on IEC and HRD activities Status: Rs. 3457.44 lacs has been spent on IEC & HRD under NRDWP support fund out of 4000 lacs i.e . 86% utilization.

18. The Challenges in Rajasthan: • Lack of confidence at the political level in terms of capacity of Panchayat Raj Institutions. With the transfer of five departments to PRIs, the ice has been broken and there are chances that other subjects in the 11th schedule may also be gradually given to PRIs. • The mind set of PHED engineers. • The lack of capacity of PRIs in maintaining the WSS is also a handicap. • Depleting potable ground water reserves and deteriorating ground water quality. • overcoming conflict of interest of different regions and different user categories • The state faces a major water crisis every third or fourth year due to recurrent drought. Therefore the GOR is cautious and want to move forward slowly and steadily because water is central to the entire development programming in Rajasthan.

19. The Way Forward • State Water Policy adopted. Decentralize Governance accepted as a policy by State Cabinet. • Capacity Building of PRI already taken up in coordination with SIRD. • Change Management Groups formed at state as well as divisional levels for change of mind set of PHED engineers. Shortly district level Change Management Groups will be set up. • A total of 7873 Rain Water Harvesting Structures and Ground Water Recharging being taken up through NRDWP funds. • Setting up of BRCs expedited to ensure gram panchayt level empowerment of PRIs. • Communication Campaign launched through electronic media for demand management both for drinking & farming sector.

20. The Way Forward Contd… • Village health and sanitation committee (VHSC) have been designated as Village Health Water & Sanitation Committee (VHW & SC) to work as VWSC as per NRDWP guidelines to reduce multiplicity of committees. • Step by step transfer of funds, functionaries and functions on Pilot basis starting from 2 districts i.e. Alwar & Udaipur. (Cabinet approval given) • Shortly a state level workshop is going to be held to discuss the transfer model with stakeholders & their feedback will be considered for ensuring smooth transition. • MGNREGS funds are also being used for rain water harvesting & ground water recharge through gram panchayats. • IWRM plans being prepared in 2798 GPs in 11 districts with active involvement of local panchayats.

21. THANKS