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Watered Up

Providing safe drinking water to rural communities is one of the core objectives of the Tata Trusts’ water, sanitation and hygiene theme. Consequently, the Trusts have been playing the role of catalyst in their collaboration with the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the flagship programme of the Indian government's Ministry of Jal Shakti. JJM’s ambitious objective is to provide potable water to every household in the country, and it is doing this by bringing rural communities into the planning, implementation, operations and maintenance process of drinking water schemes and infrastructure. The Trusts are contributing to the JJM effort in multiple ways, one of the most important being a social behavioural change communication campaign — currently operational in eight states — where the intent is to educate, enable and empower village communities on a wide range of issues related to water.

Villagers get together after a meeting in Kotari (in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district) where roles and responsibilities relating to maintenance and operations of their Jal Jeevan Mission water infrastructure were decided. This was part of a campaign called ‘samman connection’ to trigger a sense of ownership in the community about effective water usage and management.
Villagers get together after a meeting in Kotari (in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district) where roles and responsibilities relating to maintenance and operations of their Jal Jeevan Mission water infrastructure were decided. This was part of a campaign called ‘samman connection’ to trigger a sense of ownership in the community about effective water usage and management.
A group of women in Kaldari village in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district at an event to test the water they use for fluoride. The Tata Trusts’ behaviour change campaign encouraged these villagers to use fluoride-free water sources.
A group of women in Kaldari village in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district at an event to test the water they use for fluoride. The Tata Trusts’ behaviour change campaign encouraged these villagers to use fluoride-free water sources.
Matu Bai, a member of the water-user group of Bhula village in Sirohi, uses a fabricated model to explain the design of a twin-pit toilet. Mobilising households to construct and use toilets was an important part of the behaviour change campaign
Matu Bai, a member of the water-user group of Bhula village in Sirohi, uses a fabricated model to explain the design of a twin-pit toilet. Mobilising households to construct and use toilets was an important part of the behaviour change campaign.
Durbala Boro collects water from the tap installed near her home in Choudhurypara in the Kamrup Rural district of Assam.
Durbala Boro collects water from the tap installed near her home in Choudhurypara in the Kamrup Rural district of Assam.
A meeting being held in Hared village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district ahead of a rally to push the message on water, sanitation and hygiene.
A meeting being held in Hared village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district ahead of a rally to push the message on water, sanitation and hygiene.
A drawing competition on the ‘our water, our future’ theme for students of the Syeda Anowara Taimur High School in Kacharipam village in the Kamrup Rural district of Assam.
A drawing competition on the ‘our water, our future’ theme for students of the Syeda Anowara Taimur High School in Kacharipam village in the Kamrup Rural district of Assam.
Women participants at a ‘samman connection’ meeting in Fandi-Bodiwala village in the Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh.
Women participants at a ‘samman connection’ meeting in Fandi-Bodiwala village in the Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh.
Another ‘samman connection’ event, this one involving students from Satgaon Ancholik School in Dhubar village in Assam’s Kamrup Rural district.
Another ‘samman connection’ event, this one involving students from Satgaon Ancholik School in Dhubar village in Assam’s Kamrup Rural district.
A ‘samman connection’ meeting in Dakuwapara village in Assam’s Kamrup Rural district that was called to discuss the role of women on issues related to water.
A ‘samman connection’ meeting in Dakuwapara village in Assam’s Kamrup Rural district that was called to discuss the role of women on issues related to water.
Water user committee president Abhinanda Debbarma (in check shirt) leads a water tariff collection initiative in Panbua village in the Dhalai district of Tripura.
Water user committee president Abhinanda Debbarma (in check shirt) leads a water tariff collection initiative in Panbua village in the Dhalai district of Tripura.