Swajal Scheme

Ministry of Jal Shakti aims to provide every rural person with adequate safe water for drinking, cooking and other domestic basic needs on a sustainable basis. This basic requirement should meet minimum water quality standards and be readily and conveniently accessible at all times and in all situations.

Under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme, the Ministry in February 2018 has initiated a project in the name of “Swajal” that is designed as a demand driven and community centred program to provide sustainable access to drinking water to people in rural areas.

Vision

Community–led drinking water projects to be called ‘Swajal’ aiming at providing sustainable and adequate drinking water in an integrated manner to the rural masses. It is envisaged that the State government in partnership with rural communities; shall plan, design, construct, operate and maintain their water supply and sanitation schemes; so that they get potable water and attain health and hygiene benefits; the State Government and its sector institutions shall act as supporter, facilitator and co-financier and as per need shall provide technical assistance, training and cater for bigger construction works and sectoral contingencies.

Scope of coverage

Initially ”Swajal" scheme was launched in February 2018 as a pilot scheme in six states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The Scheme has been extended to all the 117 Aspirational Districts spread over 28 States. These Districts have only 25% of Piped Water Supply (PWS) habitations against the national average of 44%. Thus, there is a large scope for expansion of PWS through Swajal in these districts. 

Rationale of the Swajal Project

The demonstrated success of reform in rural water supply and sanitation sector based on demand driven approaches has contributed a lot to the replication of such models in other states, leading to the formulation of a central government level program for mainstreaming Swajal principles countrywide. The lessons learnt from earlier models based on demand driven and community centred principles include, but not limited to:

• Partnership between village communities, NGOs and the government as the facilitator and co- financing has worked successfully.
• The possibility of misappropriating and misusing the funds becomes minimal if transparency at each stage is adhered and monitored by stakeholders.
• Empowerment of PRIs is a viable and sustainable option for scaling up the decentralized service delivery model.
• The change from a supply based model to demand based model requires a new mind set and investment at different levels for acceptance of the new model.
• Good facilitation and appropriate techniques have to be put in place in community management model.
• Some form of external support to communities is imperative to ensure long term sustainability;

Objective

To provide de-centralised, preferably solar energy based piped water supply in 117 aspirational districts through community designed, implemented, maintained and safely managed single village water supply scheme. The programme would also sustain the ODF status.

Components

1. Groundwater based schemes.

1.1 Mandatory components

• Construction of bore-well/tube well or an existing such structure of required yield with proper casing.
• Installation of pump of required capacity with dry run sensor.
• Sensor to regulate the pump operation.
• Pipes of required sizes and length, quality for water delivery (raising main) to the tank and for distribution network.
• Required number of stand posts within the village (location and number to be decided by the community).
• A recharge structure for source sustainability. The type of structure is to be decided in consultation with State Ground Water Dept/Agency.
• Soak pit for safe disposal of waste water around every stand-post.
• If the GP resolves to provide piped water supply to  (i)  to  schools;  (ii)  to anganwadis; etc, then providing necessary infrastructure for such connections with multiple handwash units.

1.2 Optional components

• Community   water   treatment   unit to address the quality issue (if only required on the basis of quality testing of water source).
• An online chlorination unit if disinfection of water is anticipated (optional, only if required).
• An LED light powered by a battery charged through solar panel for drawl of water at night.
• Sensors with required data logging facility to measure (i) groundwater level in the bore/tube well (ii) discharge (iii) leakage.
• Cattle troughs.

2.0 Surface water or spring based schemes.

2.1 Mandatory components

• Identification of a sustainable surface water source in consultation with the community. Sustainability of source is to be certified by the Water Resources Department of the State.
• Construction  of  infrastructure required (intake structure) and filtering arrangement.
• Installation of pump of required capacity with dry run sensor.
• Sensor to regulate the pump operation.
• Pipes of required sizes and length, quality for water delivery (raising main) to the tank and for distribution network.
• Required number of stand posts within the village (location and number to be decided by the community).
• Soak pit for safe disposal of waste water around every stand-post.
• If the GP resolves to provide  piped water supply  to  (i)  to  schools;  (ii) to anganwadis; etc, then providing necessary infrastructure for such connections with multiple handwash units.

2.2 Optionatcomponents

• An LED light powered by a battery charged through solar panel for drawl of water at night.
• Sensors with required data logging facility to measure (i) discharge (ii) leakage.
• Cattle troughs.

Investment Guidelines

The investment guidelines for new investments under Swajal Project shall follow the steps mentioned below. Monitoring and Evaluation would be part of all these steps.

• Preparatory Steps : This includes dissemination of the Swajal Pilot Project details and principles in the state and compilation of existing water sources database, and institutional mobilization to implement the program.
• Scheme Selection : Schemes to be covered under various categories are identified and pre- feasibility studies to collect basic data of the schemes is collected
• Implementation of the Project Cycle : Planning and Implementation of the schemes, following a set of defined principles and activities and involving the community.
• Post-Implementation Support : Support to the GPs post-implementation to undertake operation and maintenance and monitor sustainability

Support

The objective of Swajal is a single village piped water scheme, hence to have a low cost scheme with minimum operation and maintenance cost that would reduce the tariff burden on community, the cost of each Swajal scheme can be up to Rs 50 lakhs. 

The Government of India and the State Government share will be as per the existing NRDWP guidelines applicable to various states. The contribution from Gram Panchayat and communities will be against capital cost of water supply.

• North Eastern States & Himalayan States : 81:09:10 (Centre: State: GP)
• Other States : 45:45:10 (Centre:State: GP)

To access the complete guidelines, click here.

Source : Ministry of Jal Shakti