Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

Good Practices and InnovATIONS in Public Governance
Asia and the Pacific
India
2009 Category 3 Winner
Institutionalization of Community
Managed Drinking Water Supply Programme
and User Level Water Quality Monitoring
Water and Sanitation Management Organisation (WASMO)
Recipients on behalf of the institution
H.E. Mr. Nitinkumar Ratilal Patel
Minister for Water Supply, Water Resources
Urban Development and Urban Housing, Government of Gujarat
Mr. V.S.Gadhavi, IAS
Secretary for Water Supply, Government of Gujarat
Dr. Jaipal Singh, IFS
Chief Executive Officer, Water and Sanitation Management Organisation
Summary
In India the State of Gujarat, which is prone to frequent droughts and water scarcity,
has improved access to water in rural areas by engaging citizens in its management
through the “Institutionalization of Community Managed Drinking Water Supply
Programme and User Level Water Quality Monitoring,” which was developed by the
Water and Sanitation Management Organisation (WASMO) in 2002, a Government
of Gujarat initiative.
The Problem
Prior to the initiative, water supply in the rural areas of Gujarat was ensured by Government
agencies and the entire sector was supply driven. A rigid bureaucracratic
structure gradually led to the ’build–neglect–rebuild’ syndrome. The service was irregular,
inefficient, and unable to meet the people’s requirements. As a result, user
satisfaction was low and the people were unwilling to pay the user charges.
The Solution
WASMO was established in 2002 as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for effective
citizens’ engagement in drinking water services in rural areas. Community institutions
in the form of Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) and partnership
links between the State and NGOs, and other entities, such as the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have been formed.
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