National Rural Drinking Water Programme Guidelines 1st April 2009

About Dataset

National Rural Drinking Water Programme Guidelines provide the comprehensive policy and implementation framework for achieving safe adequate reliable and sustainable drinking water security for rural India. Issued by the Department of Drinking Water Supply Ministry of Rural Development Government of India the guidelines redefine the approach to rural water supply by shifting the focus from infrastructure creation to long term drinking water security at the household level. The programme replaces the earlier Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme and introduces a decentralized demand driven and community managed approach based on sustainability equity quality and public participation. The guidelines establish the national goal of ensuring that every rural person has access to adequate safe drinking water for drinking cooking and other domestic needs at all times. They emphasize water as a public good and recognize the responsibility of the government to ensure universal access while encouraging active participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions Village Water and Sanitation Committees and local communities in planning implementation operation and maintenance of water supply systems. The document introduces the concept of household drinking water security by encouraging multiple water sources including groundwater surface water rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge to improve reliability and sustainability. It promotes preparation of Village Water Security Plans and District Water Security Plans supported by community participation and scientific water resource management. Special attention is given to water quality affected habitations sustainability of sources climate resilience rainwater harvesting source protection and groundwater recharge. The guidelines describe the programme components including coverage sustainability water quality operation and maintenance support activities natural calamity assistance and desert development. They provide detailed provisions for fund allocation cost sharing institutional arrangements planning monitoring online reporting management information systems research communication capacity development and water quality surveillance. The document also promotes convergence with sanitation health education and employment programmes for integrated rural development. Special emphasis is placed on inclusion of Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes women schools anganwadis and vulnerable communities to ensure equitable access to drinking water services. Women are encouraged to participate in planning management and monitoring through Village Water and Sanitation Committees. The guidelines also provide frameworks for laboratory based water quality monitoring field testing information systems social audit transparency technical support and capacity building at national state district and village levels. Overall the guidelines serve as the primary implementation manual for achieving sustainable rural drinking water security through decentralized governance community ownership improved water quality monitoring and efficient programme management across India.