(a) whether any norms have been laid down for the Rural Water and Sanitation Committees under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
(a) whether any norms have been laid down for the Rural Water and Sanitation Committees under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) & (b): In order to decentralize powers and responsibilities and to give greater focus on water and sanitation issues, the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) provides for setting up of Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSC) in each Gram Panchayat / Village / Ward for implementation of water supply schemes to ensure the active
participation of villagers. The membership of a VWSC may consist of about 6 to 12 persons,comprising members of Panchayat. Women, SCs, STs and poorer sections of the village are to be given due representation in the VWSC. At least 50% of VWSC members should be women. This Committee shall function as a Standing Committee on Water and Sanitation of
the Gram Panchayat and should be an integral part of the Village Panchayat / Block Panchayat for which, if necessary, appropriate amendments in the State Panchayati Raj Act / Rules / Byelaws may be made.
The responsibilities of VWSC are planning, designing, and implementing all drinking water and sanitation activities; providing facts and figures to the Gram Panchayat for reviewing water and sanitation issues; providing inputs for the Village Water Security Plan; ensuring community participation and decision making in all phases of scheme activities; organizing community contributions towards capital costs, both in cash and kind (land, labour or materials), if any; opening and managing bank accounts for depositing community cash contributions, O&M funds and management of project funds;
commissioning and taking over of completed water supply and sanitation works; collection of funds through tariff charges and deposit system for O&M of water supply and sanitation works for proper managing and financing of O&M of the services on a sustainable basis; and empowering of women for day to day operation and repairs of the scheme.