The document summarizes the roles and functions of the three levels of rural local government - district, block, and village - in implementing water and sanitation (WATSAN) programs in India. At the district level, the Zila Panchayat implements projects. At the block and village levels, the Panchayat Samiti and Gram Panchayats are involved in implementation. Gram Panchayats have a pivotal role and work with organizations to construct toilets, operate and maintain water supply, and ensure sanitation. Rural local governments also provide strategy, advocacy, capacity building, supervision, monitoring, regulation, and coordination to scale up WATSAN programs. Committees implement WATSAN at each level

1. Roles & Functions of the three levels of Rural
Local Government in WATSAN Programme
Arvind kumar
REGIONAL WATSAN COORDINATOR
B-TAST ( DFID- SWASTH)

2. 73rd Constitution Amendment Act, 1992
• Water & Sanitation (WATSAN) was included in the 11th
Schedule .
• At the district level, Zila Panchayat implements the project.
• Similarly, at the Block and Village levels, Panchayat Samiti and
respective Gram Panchayats involved in the implementation of
WATSAN Programme.
• Gram Panchayats have the pivotal role in the implementation of the
WATSAN Programme with VO/ NGOs/ to mobilize for the
construction of toilets, sustainable operation & maintenance of water
supply and also maintain the clean environment by way of safe
disposal of wastes. They have the main responsibility in the O&M of
the common facilities constructed.

3. Continue……
 Panchayats can also contribute from their own resources for
Mini water supply, School and Anganwadi Sanitation.
Panchayats may also open and operate the Production
Centres /Rural Sanitary Marts.
 Rural Local governments can provide the following specific
functions when scaling up water & sanitation Programme:
strategy and planning, advocacy and promotion, capacity
building, Supervision, Monitoring and evaluation, regulation,
and coordination.

4. The Status of Rural local Government in India
 Political decentralisation has been successful
 Essential legal framework is in place.
 Accountability is limited at local levels
 Disadvantaged groups are represented less in local elected
bodies.
 Roles & Functions of the three levels of rural local governments
lack clarification
 Monitoring system need to be developed.

5. Committee to Implement WATSAN Programme..
Name of the Committee level
District Water & Sanitation Mission/ Committee District
Block water & Sanitation Committee Block
Village Water & Sanitation Committee Village

6. Role & Function of DWSM/DWSC
 Formulation, Management and Monitoring of projects and progress
on drinking water security and total sanitation in rural areas
 Selection of agencies and/ NGOs and enter into agreements for
social mobilization, capacity development, communication, project
management and supervision
 Sensitizing the Public representatives, officials and the general
public
 Engaging Institutions for imparting training for capacity
development of all stakeholders, and undertaking communication
campaign
 Coordination of matters relating to water and sanitation between
district representatives of Health, Education, Forests, Agriculture,
Rural Development, etc as well as National programmes such as
SSA, NRHM, ICDS, etc.
 Interaction with SWSM, State Government and the Government of
India

7. Role & Function of BWSC
 Formulation, Management and Monitoring of projects and
progress on drinking water security and total sanitation in rural
areas
 Selection of agencies and/ NGOs and enter into agreements for
social mobilization, capacity development, communication, project
management and supervision
 Sensitizing the public representatives, officials and the general
public
 Engaging Institutions for imparting training for capacity
development of all stakeholders, and undertaking communication
campaign
 Coordination of matters relating to water and sanitation between
district representatives of Health, Education, Forests, Agriculture,
Rural Development, etc as well as National programmes such as
SSA, NRHM, ICDS, etc.
 Interaction with DWSM & DWSC.

8. Role & Function of VWSC
 Ensuring community participation and decision making in all
scheme activities
 Arranging community contributions to capital costs, in cash or
kind (land, labour or materials) or both
 Opening and managing bank accounts for depositing community
cash contributions and for management of project funds that may
be solely channelled through them
 Signing on behalf of the community, various agreements with the
DWSM or any Institutions / organisation working in the Panchayat
 Planning of water and sanitation activities;
 Procuring construction materials/goods and selection of
contractors for construction activities related to RWS and
Sanitation sectors
 Supervision of construction activities related to RWS and
sanitation sectors

9.  Signing off on all completed works and community development
activities
 Commissioning and eventual takeover of completed water supply
and sanitation works through a joint inspection of DWSM /DWSC.
 Creating awareness
 Collection of funds through a tariff system for O and M of water
supply and sanitation works
 Managing and financing of O and M of the services, on a
sustainable basis
 Empowering of women of the villages for day to day O and M of
the scheme and
 Participation in HRD and IEC activities in other villages after
completion of the scheme in own village.
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10. Actions for success
 Institutionalize and make routine of capacity development of
local Government i.e. “horizontal learning” approach.

11. We need to shift from the “Blue print” approach to
“Community Led Innovative” approach which is more
flexible.
THANK YOU