CHAPTER – 6  

SUPPORT SERVICES  

6.1       WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE  

Even though the coverage has been impressive over the last decade, various studies indicate that there is no institutionalised quality monitoring and surveillance system in the country.  This is going to be critical to the entire water supply sector in the future owing to increase in pollution and depletion of water sources.  The National Workshop held on 7-9 August, 1997 recommended that there is a need to institutionalise water quality monitoring and surveillance systems in the country.  Establishing of water quality labs could be only one of the components of the programme.  A “Catchment Area Approach” would be adopted by involving various grass root  level educational and technical institutions by utilising existing resources and strengthening them by providing additional financial resources to these institutions.  This may be implemented at three levels consisting of a Nodal Unit at the top level catchment like a premier technical institution, university, etc., intermediary level units like district laboratories, polytechnics, etc. and grass-root level units like (+2) level education institutions, labs, etc.  Activities relating to preliminary water testing etc. could be carried out at the grass-root level itself and more complicated cases could be referred to higher levels in such a way that only focussed cases of complex nature and of  value and utility at State level reach the nodal unit.  The nodal units will be networked with the State headquarters(PHED). 100% funding, as per the approved norms, would be provided to the States for strengthening water quality monitoring facilities, based on projects received from the State Governments.  Restructuring the State PHEDs with the required grant-in-aid support, as indicated in para  6.11,  to bring in the much  missed link up with the Health authorities will also be attempted as a part of institutionalising the monitoring system. Health Department officials will be increasingly involved in the surveillance activity.  

6.2       RIGS AND  HYDRO FRACTURING UNITS  

The expenditure for purchase of Rigs/Hydro fracturing units  would be made by the Central Government and State Government on 50:50 basis. The purchase of rigs on a very selective basis for sophisticated rigs for remote and difficult access areas is to be financed out of the MNP funds.  The expenditure will however, be counted as matching provision for central assistance under the ARWSP.  

There should be well planned and systematic programmes for training of Drilling Crew & Supervisory Staff in the States by sponsoring or conducting regular training programmes, under PHED/State Training Institutions, CGWB or State Ground Water organisations in coordination with the Mission.  The personnel who have undergone the above training should preferably be posted in the field.  A rig monitoring plan for the State should be drawn up right at the beginning of the year to effect optimum utilisation of these machines and the crew.  

6.3       HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT  

A National Human Resource Development Programme (NHRDP) has been launched by the Mission from 1994 based on the Human Resource Development Policy Document evolved jointly by the central and state governments.  The NHRDP, interalia, aims at training at least one grassroots level trainee through district level trainers who in turn may be trained at selected institutions forming the Indian Training Network (ITN). Under the NHRDP, the States and UTs should set  up state level HRD cells for planning, designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating an appropriate and need based HRD programme. The HRD programme should aim at empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions/Local Bodies with the objective of enabling them to take up operation and maintenance activities related to rural water supply systems.  It should also aim at capacity building of local communities by giving requisite training to mechanics/health motivators/masons etc, especially women to operate and maintain handpumps and the components of other water supply systems as well as to generate demand for adequate sanitation facilities.  To train the grass root trainees, the States/UTs may build up a pool of district level trainers who could be sent for training to the participating and key institutions. The States/UTs should establish state level HRD cells.  The suggested staffing pattern, norm for equipment alongwith delineating of major functions already communicated vide D.O.Letter No. W.11038/1/94-HRD dated 15.9.94 and d.o. letter No.W-11043/1/95(Media) dated 31-12-1997. The Central Government will provide 100% assistance during the plan period for the above activities as per the cost norms given at Annexure-IV.  

6.4       INFORMATION EDUCATION & COMMUNICATION  

The emphasis of IEC programme should not be on hardware aspects but should be aimed at front loading software with the objective of generating a felt need which would result in an increased demand for safe drinking water and better sanitation facilities.  Awareness on matters related to water borne diseases manifestations and symptoms should be created.  The services of the State Publicity/Public Relations Department should be utilised to provide publicity to the rural water supply programme through mass media to disseminate information about the programme, highlighting the achievements, emphasis on use of safe water to overcome water borne diseases, etc. The importance of using safe water, using water as a socio-economic good and the problems related to water quality in any specific area should be highlighted.  This could be done by bringing to the public knowledge through appropriate methods like folk songs, folk drama, documentary films, pamphlets, brochures and other local means suited to the area. Publicity should also be given in the local newspapers about the action plan for coverage of habitations actually covered on year to year basis with other details like the type of schemes provided, the service level, delivery system, agency responsible for operation and maintenance, etc. 100% Central funds will be provided during the     plan period for activities under the IEC, as per the cost norms (Annexure-V) communicated vide GOI letter No.W-11043/75/95-Media dated 29.12.1997.  

6.5       MONITORING AND INVESTIGATION UNITS  

The  Government of India has been providing assistance to the States to establish and continue  special  investigation divisions from the Fourth Five Year Plan to carry out investigation, planning and  feasibility study of the schemes. The special monitoring cell and investigation unit at the State headquarters should be headed by an officer suitably qualified and of suitable level  for monitoring and investigation with necessary supporting staff. Monitoring unit shall be responsible for collecting information from the executing agencies through prescribed reports and returns (Progress Monitoring System), maintenance of the data and timely submission of the prescribed reports and returns to the Central Government by due dates.  The unit shall also be responsible for monitoring at field level of aspects of quality of water, adequacy of service and other related qualitative aspects of the programme. The Unit shall also maintain water quality data in coordination with the concerned Department, Central/State Ground Water Board, details of different technologies developed by institutions for tackling different problems and to provide the same to the field level executing agencies.   The Monitoring and Investigation Units should also have technical posts of hydrologists, geophysicist, computer specialists with data entry operators, etc. A Quality Control Unit should be an integral part of M&I Units and should work in coordination with the R&D Cell.  This unit will be responsible for controlling/regulating the quality of construction works in water supply schemes and will ensure practical application of latest technologies in the field. The expenditure will be borne by the Central Government and the State Governments on a 50:50 basis.  

6.6       MONITORING AND EVALUATION  

Central Government takes up monitoring and evaluation studies through reputed organisations/institutions from time to time.  The State Governments may also take up similar monitoring & evaluation studies on the implementation of the rural water supply programme. 100% financial  assistance will be provided by the Centre to the States for taking up such evaluation studies with prior  approval of the Mission. The reports of these studies should be made available to the Mission and immediate corrective  action should be initiated as a follow up to improve the quality of programme implementation.  

6.7       MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM  

For effective planning monitoring and implementation of various schemes under different programme, Information Technology(IT) based Management Information System provides for the following:-  

(i)        Maintenance of microlevel status of water supply to ensure planning and monitoring based on microlevel data,

(ii)       Assistance for computer facilities upto division level in phases to ensure latest technology for processing and storing data and its communication from one office to another through NICNET,

(iii)       Assistance for conducting training programmes; and,

(iv)      Development of customised software for enabling States/UTs to fully utilise for power of computer systems for planning, monitoring and implementation of various activities in the sector.  

100% Central assistance will be provided for all MIS activities including training during the plan period.  

6.8       RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT  

To strengthen the R&D facilities in the concerned Departments in various States, State Governments are encouraged to establish R&D cells with adequate manpower and infrastructure. R&D Cells are required to remain in touch with premier technical institutions within the State.  The network of technical institutions may follow the guidelines issued by the Mission from time to time for effective implementation of the rural water supply programme.  R&D Cells are also required to be in constant touch with the Monitoring & Investigation divisions and the Monitoring & Evaluation Study Reports for initiating appropriate follow up action.  The R&D Cell should keep in constant  touch with the documentation and information centre of the Mission and visit at the Mission’s web site. The Mission will provide necessary assistance to the States.

6.9       PROVISION OF DRINKING WATER IN RURAL  SCHOOLS

All the States are required to compile data regarding district-wise rural schools in existence and number of them having drinking water facilities.  The remaining rural schools and anganwadis are to be provided with drinking water facilities. A part of this work will be accomplished through the funds provided by Tenth Finance Commission and the rest would have to be covered under the rural water supply programme, in addition to the work of covering NC and PC habitations.  Expenditure for this purpose would also be shared by the Central and State Government on 50:50 basis from the funds allocated for ARWSP.  States would be required to fix target for coverage of rural schools on an yearly basis and intimate its achievement to the Mission on monthly basis along with the progress reports being submitted to intimate coverage of NC and PC habitations.  This activity is to be carried out in coordination with NEP, DPEP, DWCRA, Anganwadis, Department of Social Welfare and Department of Education.  All the rural schools should be covered with drinking water facilities by the end of the 9^th Plan.  

6.10      Central Assistance for various components of the programme is given as under:  

6.11    Restructuring of PHEDs/Boards. 

PHEDs/Boards are the primary executing agencies for commissioning water supply schemes at the state level.  These organisations as they are organised, give greater emphasis on the technical parameters.  They are not trained/organised to address other softer concerns and socio-political issues at the grass-root level which are essential for ensuring sustainability of sources and systems under the water supply schemes.  It has, therefore, been found  necessary to strengthen and restructure the existing PHEDS/Boards by making them responsive to the needs of the community and the evolving scenario by studying their strengths and weaknesses, reviewing their systems and procedures, staffing pattern, decision making process(es) of implementation, keeping in view  the future role to be played by these organisations while pursuing the new policy of adopting a demand driven approach to supply, promoting community participation and cost sharing etc. of the systems under the rural water supply programme.  As indicated in para 6.10 (iii), 100% Central assistance will be provided for meeting the additional requirements towards restructuring of the PHEDs/Boards during the plan period. 

Index