How Jal Sahelis are bridging the gaps in Madhya Pradesh's tap water mission

By Bharat Dogra 

In the Niwari district of Madhya Pradesh, as tap water from a new network of pipelines and tanks reaches more villages, it brings immense relief—especially to women, who are freed from the daily burden of fetching water. Yet the transition is not always smooth, and several problems keep cropping up. Many villages still have not received water in their taps, while in others, certain hamlets or households have been left out.

Jaipal Singh Yadav, sarpanch of Kulua village in Niwari, says, “From early morning, I start getting calls from one part of the village or another—‘Sarpanch Ji, there is no water in my tap today.’ If one person is getting water, another is not. In this situation, I am often helpless, but I am expected to solve the problem immediately. Tell me, what exactly can I do?”

After a short pause, he adds, “The fact is that in villages which do not have an adequate water source of their own, five villages are grouped together for supply from a common larger source. Often, the village where the main tank is located gets priority supply, while those supplied later or situated farther away receive less water—and some households may even be deprived entirely. Then there are local problems within the village: someone more influential may try to draw more water. But when it comes to paying maintenance charges, the same person may say, ‘Don’t you know I am a leader?’”

Given these challenges, it is crucial to involve community members in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and its water supply work, which aims to provide piped tap water to all households. In hundreds of villages across the Bundelkhand region, this important role has been greatly facilitated by Jal Sahelis—a cadre of women volunteers mobilized and trained by the voluntary organization Parmarth to drive water and sanitation initiatives in rural areas.

Lakshmi Kushwaha, a Jal Saheli from Bahera village in Niwari, says, “The pipeline in our village became choked at an early stage. So we Jal Sahelis made a lot of efforts to get it repaired in time. Finally, the problem was solved by removing some external elements that had somehow got stuck in the pipes.”

Sudha Ahirwar from Churari village adds, “The pipeline work was somehow being delayed in our village, though the reasons were not very clear. So we mobilized people for a dharna—a sit-in—and we returned home only after receiving a firm promise that the pipeline and other water supply work would be taken up soon.”

Sudha added that after that, progress was satisfactory, but some households were still left out for various reasons. The Jal Sahelis continued their efforts to ensure that these households too could access water.

Difficulties also arise in extending water supply to Adivasi settlements, which are often located in more remote, hilly, or higher areas where it is harder for water to reach. In the Adivasi hamlet of Baghaura, in Babina block (Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh), I found several women fetching water from a handpump. On inquiry, I was told that pipelines had been installed, but only three households in the hamlet were getting water. Why were all the others left out? It appeared that an influential person in another settlement had tampered with the valves to cut off most of the supply to this hamlet.

However, in Anthodhna village in the same block, it was heartening to see that the Adivasi hamlet was the first to receive tap water. Still, most villagers there are waiting for water in their taps. The Jal Sahelis, along with the broader water council (pani panchayat) formed with the help of other community members, are now gearing up to ensure that water reaches all households satisfactorily.

It is equally important to continue protecting the village water sources. When tap water arrives, the care of traditional sources sometimes declines, as they are seen as less important. Yet these sources remain vital for water security—they meet needs during pipeline disruptions, supply water for animals and irrigation, and help maintain the water table. Sanjay Singh, Secretary of Parmarth, says, “We have always emphasized the protection of water sources in all our work and training.” Jaipal Yadav adds, “Any village that neglects the protection and maintenance of its water sources is actually sowing the seeds of its own destruction.”

In the context of water conservation and source protection, the role of Jal Sahelis becomes even more significant, as they have received training in this area and have been involved in numerous actions to save and protect water sources.

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The writer is Honorary Convener of the Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Man over Machine and Navjeevan. His website is bharatdogra.in, and his YouTube channel is Bharat Dogra Save Earth Campaign