Rural Water Supply in India: Trends in Institutionalizing People's Participation

Abstract

The rural water supply sector in India experienced significant changes over the last three decades. Emergence of modern technologies, such as bore wells and deep tube wells, accelerated the coverage of rural areas with safe drinking water. Traditional water harvesting systems were gradually neglected and centralized water management was systematically promoted. The control and ownership shifted from people to government, reducing the communities as mere end-users. Central and state governments funded entire costs of water supply without any cost recovery from community. The impacts of modernization are being felt now. The supply-driven approach of water supply departments and inefficient management of key resources are resulting in poor service delivery. Over-exploitation of groundwater is resulting in the re-emergence of water-scarce villages. This situation necessitated reforms in the sector that promotes people's ownership and management of resources. Studies indicate that the performance of sector reform pilot projects being implemented in 63 districts of India is not very impressive. A national increase in reforms will be successful when micro-level diversity and innovations are preserved while introducing uniformity at the macro-level. The two case studies on successful micro-level models of NGOs offer valuable lessons for a nation-wide scale-up of reforms. Re-emergence of water scarce habitations, a supply-driven approach in service delivery, the absence of community participation and cost recovery, and problems in scaling-up reforms are the primary issues identified. The three essential strategies for long-term success of the reforms and sustainability of water supply systems are: a holistic approach to water management, direct community participation in resource management, and appropriate community institutional structures.