World Water Day Celebrations by Water Aid Partners in Madhya Pradesh, India

Water and Sanitation Network for All, Gwalior
Gwalior, India, 15 Apr 05

http://www.sambhavindia.org

On 15th of April' 2005, 10 NGO partners of Water Aid, India, Bhopal are coming together to celebrate The World Water Day.

It will be focusing on the different water and sanitation activities being carried out by these organisations. There is likely to be the participation of more than 200 people representing Panchayati Raj Institutions, Women Self Help Groups and Water & Sanitation Committees.

It will be a day long event, which will be held at Institute of Health and Management, City Centre, Gwalior. Mr. Anoop Mishra, Minister for Water Resources will be the chief guest and Mr. S.N. Subbarao- A famous Gandhian will preside over the function.

The program will include an exhibition presentation by different organisations and prize distribution to the people who have contributed significantly to the cause of water and sanitation.

Following are the NGO's participating in this event:

Sambhav Social Service Organisation-Gwalior
Parmarth- Urai
Dharti- Morena
MGSA- Gwalior
BAMA- Gwalior
Kalpataru- Guna
CGSS- Morena
VSS- Bhind
Parhit- Datia
SEWA- Bhopal
AFPRO- Gwalior
EDS- Bhopal
Abhiyaan - Banda
HBM- Lalitpur
Grammonati- Mahoba

For Further Details Please Contact:
WASANFA
19-New Vivekananda Colony
Balwant Nagar Extension
Gwalior-2
Phone:+91-751-2341995,5011379
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World Water Day Celebration- 2005
The International Decade for Action- 2005-15
Water for Life
Supported By: Water Aid, India
Date: 15th April’2005
Venue: State Health Management and Communication Center, Gwalior
Organized By: Water and Sanitation Network for All (WASANFA)

Objectives:
• To improve communities participation in water, hygiene and sanitation activities.
• Disseminating information on activities and interventions undertaken by the WASANFA.
• To discuss and find solutions to water, sanitation and hygiene related problems.
• Experience sharing of the activities undertaken by NGO’s, Community Leaders, Local Governance and Panchayat.
• To promote activities undertaken to address the economic and social threats prevailing in the society due to unsafe disposal and consumption of contaminated water.

Distinguished Guests:
• Shri S.N. Subbarao (Renowned Gandhian)
• Mr. Anoop Mishra, Hon. Minister of Water Resources, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh
• Mr. V.D. Dubey (AFPRO Field Unit V, Gwalior)
• Shri Brijendra Singh Jadon (Municipal Corporation)

Partner NGO’s:
Sambhav Social Service Organisation-Gwalior
Parmarth- Urai
Dharti- Morena
MGSA- Gwalior
BAMA- Gwalior
Kalpataru- Guna
CGSS- Morena
VSS- Bhind
Parhit- Datia
SEWA- Bhopal
AFPRO- Gwalior
EDS- Bhopal
Abhiyaan - Banda
HBM- Lalitpur
Grammonati- Mahoba
Introduction:
WASANFA is a network of voluntary agencies engaged in water, hygiene and sanitation activities with the support of Water Aid, India. 22nd March every year is celebrated as the World Water Day around the world by voluntary agencies and government authorities, with a view of addressing the issues of water, sanitation and hygiene around the world. The next decade 2005-2015 shall be celebrated as the International Decade for Action, themed “Water for Life”.
The world water day celebration on 15th April 2005, by members of WASANFA is in support to the “International Decade for Action”.

The Event:
World Water Day Celebrations commenced with the registration of all the delegates from Gwalior and near by regions.
All the guests were invited to have a glance through exhibitions set up by partner NGO’s of WASANFA. These exhibition stalls set up with the help of Models, Charts and posters highlighted:
• Disposal of contaminated water.
• Disposal of solid waste.
• Disposal of human waste.
• Techniques of garbage management.
• Maintenance and care of water sources.
• Low-cost toilet models
• Threats of open defecation, standing water and unhygienic living conditions.

After all the were then invited to participate in the discussion on water, sanitation and hygiene, inaugurated by Mr. S.N. Subbarao after garlanding Maa Saraswati and lighting the lamp.

Dr. S.K.Singh, President WASANFA introduced:

WASANFA is a network of voluntary agencies engaged in water, sanitation and hygiene activities, formed in 2004, with the objectives:
• To bring about awareness in the community on availability and crisis over water.
• To incorporate water, sanitation and hygiene activities as a part of curriculum for students.
• Disseminate information for awareness in the community on disposal of contaminated water and garbage.
• To sensitize the communities on the issue of safeguard from diseases through personal hygiene.
• To provide a common platform to voluntary & government for experience sharing on water, sanitation and hygiene.
• To correlate water with the issues child rights, women rights, and poverty elimination.

Problems of the Area:

Geographical:
1. Scarcity of drinking water
2. Low water level
3. Water Lagging
4. Stony Area
5. Migration
6. Lack of space for defecation
7. Poor management of water disposal
8. Dacoits

Social:
1. Cast Discrimination
2. Gender Discrimination
3. Violence
4. Ignorant attitude of the government.

Developmental:
1. Illiteracy (Total Literacy – 55%, Female Literacy- 20%)
2. Sex Ratio (841:1000)
3. Poor health infrastructure
4. Unemployment
5. No control over resources

Institutions
1. Community Organisations
• Target Groups
• Self Help Groups
• Water and Sanitation Committees
• Parent Teacher Associations
2. Schools and Students
3. Panchayati Raj Institutions
4. Women Groups

Components
1. Awareness in community
2. Liaison between Government and Panchayat
3. Advocacy
4. Education and capacity building of the community
5. Promotion of public and household toilets
6. Availability of safe drinking water
7. House visit
8. Hygiene and sanitation activities in schools
9. Women Self Help Groups
10. Sanitation Fund/Sanitary Mart
11. Kitchen garden and soak pit.

Achievements
1. 2000 Toilets
2. 692 hand pumps repaired
3. 463 women groups formed- 5093 Members, Savings Rs. 2,000,000
4. Hygiene and Health activities in 204 schools
5. 116 ICDS center coverage
6. 720 CBO’s formed: 5760 members

Constraints
1. Social discrimination
2. Incapable government services
3. Migration
4. Non-functional Panchayat system
5. TSC program being implemented at various levels
6. Difference of opinion: APL v/s BPL
7. Permission of the municipal corporation to perform hardware activities in urban slums.
8. Houses with no space for drainage and disposal arrangements.
9. Droughts
10. Stony and hilly project areas
11. Technical knowledge

Opportunities
• Government supportive in achieving development goals.
• International support.
• Advocacy and networking at National and District level.
• Organisations like UNICEF, HUDCO, ADB coming forwards to support
• Establishment of Self Help Group federation.
• Discount of TSC raised from 500 to 1500 in Uttar Pradesh

Further the prize distribution ceremony commenced in which 10 representatives from each NGO project areas were honored through certificates for their contribution and active participation in the Water, Hygiene and Sanitation activities. All the member NGO’s were also gifted with souvenirs during the ceremony.

Speech by Mr. V.D. Dubey:
Mr. V.D. Dubey shared the concern that if we do not soon understand the emerging need of proper water management and hygiene promotion as a part of our lives, soon we will land up in a situation when we will have no water to drink. 97 percent of water present on earth is salt water and cannot be used. Only 2.7% of water in the entire world is such that can be used for our daily life. In such a situation where we have such an small amount of water for life, it becomes mandatory that we start to use water sensibly, and wisely.

AFPRO is an organization that provided technical support to organizations that are working in the field of water, we extend our support for any technical aspect in the future.

Speech by Mr. S.N. Subbaroa
Mr. Subbaroa, started his discussion with an inspirational song, and then exclaimed that safeguarding the environment is the most widely talked topic these days. It is necessary that we first treat the pollution and contamination prevailing in our mind, it is only then that we can head towards environmental hygiene issues. The very essential component to overcome such an concern is to be practically attatched to the issue, not just talking and discussing about it. He said I don’t know when was the first human existence discovered on earth, but whenever it may have happened, must have been near a river. Water is the most precious gift we have, and we should cherish it. In countries like Japan, people have started to buy oxygen cylinders to consume fresh air, hotels have separate rooms, especially designed to provide fresh air.
It feels sad to still see mothers and sisters going for defecation in the open area. The only possible solution to this concern is to get together, and really think about what can be done. It is only then that we shall be able to develop towards a hygienic life.

Speech by Mr. Brijendra Singh Jadon
Mr. Brijendra Singh Jadon in his speech, firstly appreciated the efforts being made by various NGO’s in the field of Water, Hygiene and Sanitation. Further he said that apart from the interventions undertaken by the NGOs to conserve water, it is also very necessary that the community actively participates in this process. Municipal Corporation will not accept any carelessness neither by the government officials, not the public, when the concern will be water. He discussed about the Rs.85 crore sewer line project initiated by the municipal corporation as a conclusion to his speech.

Post- Lunch Session
The post lunch session commenced with a theater performance “Swasth Jeevan Ki Or”. After the show. All the NGOs presented their achievements and activities in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene. This session was chaired by Dr. S.K.Singh, who concluded the discussion by sharing the view, that it has been observed that at some places government support is not enough and at some places far more than expectations. He also shares that the only way of making these programs a major success is firstly to involve the community as stakeholders in the program, secondly building an active dialogue and network with the government departments.
Participation
285 people from Government departments, community representatives, NGOs, CBOs, Municipal corporation, Jila Panchayat, Janpad Panchayat, Education Department, Health Department, Woemn and Child Development participated in the event.

Outcome and Impact
• This event facilitated an active dialogue directly between the municipal corporation and NGO’s.
• Efforts made by NGO’s I the Gwalior- Chambal region have been highly appreciated.
• Municipal Corporation has extended its full support in the future.
• Such programs have helped NGO’s, CBO, WASAN Members mark their presence at the district level.

Contact: Dr. S.K. Singh <sambhavngo@gmail.com>