Presented at the Triple-S Annual Review and Planning Meeting (ARAP), Fort Portal Uganda, 6th-11th May 2013

1. JALABANDHUS (FRIENDS OF WATER) LET
WATER FLOW IN SAGAR AND
PATHARPRATIMA BLOCKS, INDIA
ARAP, UGANDA 2013

2. WATER SERVICES THAT LAST …2
BEFORE
 Estimated 30-40% of handpumps in Sagar and
Patharpratima blocks of West Bengal non-functional
 Long downtime – up to several months – before repairs
 Only 2 handpump mechanics per block, each with
several hundreds of handpumps
 Unclear division of responsibility for operation and minor
maintenance between Gram Panchayats and users

3. WATER SERVICES THAT LAST …3
THE INTERVENTION
 Since 2009, the NGO Water For People has been:
– Training some 26 Jalabandhus – handpump mechanics -
in each block and provision of tool kits
– Supporting the promotion of their services
– Setting up and training water committees at all water
points they intervened at, including establishing tariff
payment system
– Establishing operational agreements between
Jalabandhus, Gram Panchayats and spare part suppliers

4. WATER SERVICES THAT LAST …4
AFTER
 Jalabandhus offering repair services
 “My first question is who pays?:
– To water committees: fast but direct payment
– To Gram Panchayats: slower but at no cost to users
 Gram Panchayats hiring Jalabandhus for preventative
maintenance and routine monitoring
 Market mechanisms
– Promotion and client relations
– Better performing ones increasing market share
– Extending services offered (e.g. plumbing)
 Non-functionality rate down to 18%, and downtime to 1-2 days
(direct) or 4-5 days (via Gram Panchayats)

5. WATER SERVICES THAT LAST …5
MESSAGES FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE
 Users are willing and able to pay to have more speedy
repairs and reduced downtime than waiting longer for a free
repair
 There is a market for repair services, but it requires an initial
investment and support from outside
 The combination of demand (by users) and supply (through
Jalabandhus) reduces non-functionality and downtime… even
though still a significant number of water points remains non-
functional