Sector Expert Consultation on Water Sanitation and Hygiene

On November 15th, 2017, the Sector Expert Consultation on ‘Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)’ was held at Hotel Clark Amar, Jaipur. The discussion covered diverse topics such as sustainability issues the in WASH sector, technology, behavior change and community mobilization, solid and liquid waste management, governance issues,  IEC,  and drinking water. The total number of 42 experts participated in the consultation.

The consultation included experts from government agencies like Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of Rajasthan, UNICEF, Water Aid, Indian Institute of Health Management and Research (IIHMR), Public Health and Engineering Department, Government of Rajasthan, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tata Water Mission, WSSO, PHED- Government of Rajasthan, Center for Environment and Development, Jaipur, JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur, CULP and Tata Trusts along with the heads and CEOs of many non-profit organizations and leading stakeholders from the Water Sanitation and Hygiene sector of Rajasthan.

The experts came up with a list of 59 interventions.

Substantiality

• Sustainability of infrastructure/ facilities created for water supply and sanitation  
• Sustainability of ODF - Verification process at regular interval to maintain the status

Technology

• Technology for building toilet 1) one pit, two pit, septic tank, 2) ventilators in toilets 3) revisiting the specification of the toiles including area and weather based material  -  efficiency and safe disposal of waste – awareness to household and local maisons  
• Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) - water treatment 
• Sewage planning in villages – construction, placement and maintenance 
• Technical support to village Panchayat for water supply planning and treatment  
• Emphasis on program design and usage of technology in water planning/management  
• Water efficient technologies for cleaning toilets

Solid Liquid Waste Management /ODF Plus

• ODF status to cover the totality of status-  area/village (including sewage, use of plastic cleanliness etc)
• Ban on usage of plastic 
• Training and Capacity building of functionaries and officials (NGO, Govt, and others)
• Promotion of vermicompost in rural area (Solid and liquid waste management)
• Safe of and proper disposal of waste (example of sanitary napkin in Hanumangarh and Ganganager)
• Toilets facilities in anganwadi (including maintenance) 
• Usage of toilet in school (not functional, operation and maintenance)  
• Slippage in usage of toilet (not only providing the Individual household toilets but also use it) 
• WASH assessment of health facilities (hospital and delivery points at health centers)  
• Provision under NREGA to provide operation and maintenance cost of toilets (school, aganwani, public and community toilets)

Drinking Water

• Indigenous water harvesting technologies (example water drafting technologies)  
• Traditional water sources to be considered in village before any new interventions
• Pay for usage; Developing the habit of payment of bill for water supply issue  
• Quality of water supply (example of E.coli, contamination)  
• Water testing facilities to cover the last family/village 
• Catchment restoration of existing water resources (not only building new once)  
• Implement Piped/regional water supply in PPP mood including O&M cost (to ensure better delivery and services) 
• Committee in every village for village development (members are competitively selected and changed every 2 years)
• Prevent water wastage - Community involvement and legal 
• Incorporating sanitation into curriculum - NCERT and AICTE 
• Water conservation and recharging through traditional water structures
• Mapping of existing water resources

Behaviors change, IEC and Awareness

• IEC and interpersonal communication – for usage of toilet 
• Impact of existing training and capacity building program 
• Awareness about usage of DFUs - Defloradation unit for drinking water/ Solar based DFUs
• IEC to be implemented by social and community-based organization-NGOs (not through private contractors in Rajasthan)  
• Sustainability of IEC scheme – regular support instead of one time resources 
• Awareness about right diet (In fluoride affected area) 
• Community Led Total Sanitation and behavior change communication strategies and activities
• Provide support for the adoption of key evidence-based hygiene behaviors and practices
• Strengthening of PRIs for planning, implementation, and monitoring of sanitation 
• Awareness raising for sanitation, including increased knowledge on hygienic practices
• Reward, motivation, and encouragement for toilet usage (shift focus from construction support to usage support) 

Institutional

• Mandatory monitoring committee at village level – for water and sanitation program 
• Village water and Sanitation Committee – strengthening, acceptation, community ownership  
• Region-based approach and WASH planning to deal with problems -Four regions in State
• Vision and WASH planning document for each region of Rajasthan – local tailor made solutions 
• Community-led approach (not government-led to water and sanitation program)  
• Community ownership of the water and sanitation program at village level with women in lead role 
• Mechanism for Operation and maintenance of public and community toilet – community ownership 
• Sensitization of functionaries responsible for implementation  
• Integrated water resources management approach at village level (including intra-regional level for comprehensive planning) 
• MIS for sanitation program - Geo-tagging and photo upload 
• Involvement of Tribal area development department in WASH efforts  
• Preservation of existing village Common-land 

Others

• Riverbed restoration and preservation 
• Mechanism for Operation and maintenance of public and community toilet – community ownership 
• Institutional supply of rural pan 
• Ensuring appropriate systems for environmentally safe management of solid-liquid/waste 
• Documentation on success stories along with underlined assumptions  
• Certification courses for sanitation workers

List of Participants

• Dr. T. K. Das, WASH Consultant, UNICEF
• Zahir Abbas, WASH Consultant, UNICEF
• Shaktivardhan, Consultant, Water Aid
• Rajendra Tank, SRG, PDR
• Rajendra Singh, Director, kheti avam gaon vikas sansthan
• Aman Singh, Chief Coordinator, KRAPAVIS, Alwar
• Jagveer Singh, Sr. Programme Coordinator, GVNML
• Kedar Prasad Shrimal, Director, Gramodaya Samajik Sansthan
• Satya Narayan Gautam, Secretary, Swa-Sahyog Sanstha
• Ram Ratan Jangid, Secretary, Gramodaya Samajik Sansthan
• G. N. Sharma, Wash & Health Consultant
• Bhawani Singh Shekhawat, Executive Engineer, PHED
• K. Godika, Executive Director, Rajasthan Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• Pushkar , ZSBP-TATA Trusts, SBM-G
• Alok Sharma, ZSBP, Pratapgarh, TATA Trusts, MDWS
• Manish Vishroi, ZSBP, Banswala, TATA Trusts, SBM-G
• Arpit Dubey, ZSBP, Bhoratpur, TATA Trusts
• Ruchi Singh, ZSBP, Rajsamand, TATA Trusts
• Karishma kadyan, ZSBP, Rajasthan, TATA Trusts, SBM-G
• Anuroop Satle, ZSBP, Rajasthan,TATA Trusts, SBM-G
• Stella George, ZSBP, Bholpur, TATA Trusts, MDWS
• Seema Sreevasthav, ZSBP, Sirohi, TATA Trusts, SBM-G
• Harsh Vardhan ZSBP, Rajasthan TATA Trusts, SBM-G
• Azeem-ur-Rehman, General manager, Bhoruka Charitable Trust
• Abhishek Dadhich, Faculty IIHMR University, jaipur
• Dr.Suneet Sethi, State Consultant, WSSO, PHED Govt of Rajasthan 
• Karen Mac, Student, School for International Training
• Dr. M. S. Rathore, Director, Centre for Envirnment & Development Studies, Jaipur
• Dr.Anupam Kumar Singh, Professor & Director (Water Engineering), JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur
• Itika, SBCC Manager, TATA Trusts/Centre for Micro finance
• Rohan Manchanda, Nodal Person-Swachta Prarak, Ministry of Drinking water and sanitation, Got of India
• Nishi Kalra,ZSBP, TATA Trusts
• Anshul Bharsham, Snr. Program Manager, Students Relief Society
• Dr. Goutam Sadhu, Professor, IIHMR University, Jaipur
• Divyang Waghela, Head-TATA Water Mission, TATA Trusts
• Dr .O. P. Kulhari, Secretary & Director, CULP, Jaipur
• Vinod Kumar, P.P.C, Lupin Foundation
• Dalip Tarag, EE, PHED
• Harshikha, ZSBP, TATA Trusts
• Shashwat Kulshreshtha, Dy. General Manager, Cairn Oil & Gas, Vedanta Limited