Launch of ‘Water for Women, Women for Water Campaign’ under AMRUT

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is going to launch a progressive initiative “Water for Women, Women for Water Campaign” under its flagship scheme – Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

• The celebration of this “Jal Diwali” campaign will start from November 7, 2023 till November 9, 2023.
• The National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) of the Ministry is also participating in this scheme.
• Also, Odisha Urban Academy is its ‘knowledge partner’.

Objective of the campaign:

• The campaign aims to provide a platform to involve women in water governance systems.
• The campaign aims to address gender equality issues by promoting inclusivity and diversity in fields traditionally dominated by men.
• Women will be provided first-hand information about water treatment processes through visits to Water Treatment Plants (WTP) in their respective cities.
• The plant visits will give them an opportunity to see firsthand the critical processes used to deliver clean and safe drinking water to homes.
• Additionally, women will have access to information about water quality testing protocols that ensure that citizens have access to water of the required quality.
• The overarching goal of this campaign is to develop a sense of ownership and belonging among women towards water infrastructure.

More than 3,000 water treatment plants are in the country:

• There are more than 3,000 water treatment plants in India, with constructed water treatment capacity of more than 65,000 MLD and operational capacity of more than 55,000 MLD.
• During this campaign, women self-help groups (SHGs) will visit more than 550 water treatment plants, whose combined operational capacity is more than 20,000 MLD (more than 35 percent of the total capacity of the country).

Role of women in domestic water management:

• Women play an important role in domestic water management. By empowering women by providing them information about water treatment and infrastructure, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs aims to enhance their capacity to ensure access to safe and clean drinking water for their households.

First phase of Jal Diwali:

• Water for Women, Women for Water campaign in the first phase of “Jal Diwali” with expected participation of more than 15,000 Self Help Group women nationwide in all States/UTs (except 5 States under Model Code of Conduct) will participate in. The key areas of this campaign are as follows:
  • To acquaint women with the functioning of water treatment plants and water testing facilities;
  • Promoting inclusivity and participation of women through souvenirs and items produced by women self-help groups;
  • To inform and educate women about AMRUT scheme and water infrastructure;
• The expected outcomes of this campaign include increased awareness and knowledge about water treatment, enhanced sense of ownership and responsibility, promotion of inclusivity, empowerment of Self Help Groups, positive community impact and models for future initiatives.
• State and city officials from AMRUT and NULM will identify the WTPs and facilitate these visits.
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has called upon all state and city authorities to actively participate and support this initiative.
• This initiative under ‘AMRUT’ is a significant effort towards involving women in the vital sector of water infrastructure.

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT Mission):

• Launch of AMRUT Mission: June 2015
• Whose mission is it? 
  • Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Objective of AMRUT Mission:

• To ensure access to tap water supply and sewerage connection to every household.
• The priority area of the Mission is water supply followed by sewerage.
• To enhance the amenities of cities by developing greenery and well-maintained open spaces (such as parks).
• To reduce pollution by further developing public transport facilities.