How women water volunteers are transforming Bundelkhand

By Bharat Dogra 

Women water volunteers, known as Jal Sahelis, have played an increasingly important role in recent years in water conservation, protection of water sources, and improving access to water and sanitation in many villages of the Bundelkhand region. The response and contributions of Jal Sahelis—translated as "women friends of water"—have surpassed the expectations of most people in several villages. 

When the Parmarth voluntary organization initiated efforts to improve water and sanitation with Jal Sahelis playing a foundational role, without a budget to pay them, many expressed doubts about how far the initiative could go. However, recent experience shows that not only are more rural women coming forward as volunteers to take on these responsibilities, but they are also proposing new significant initiatives on their own.

A recent example is the Yamuna foot march, which stretched all the way from Bundelkhand to Delhi, covering a distance of over 500 kilometers. This march involved numerous difficulties, but the idea of raising public consciousness about the need to protect the Yamuna River originated from the Jal Sahelis themselves. They rose to the challenge and completed the march, following earlier successful foot marches within the Bundelkhand region.

Moreover, with the recent and ongoing implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, the responsibilities of Jal Sahelis have increased significantly. They face several daily challenges in the process of laying pipelines, installing tap connections, and finally delivering water supply to many villages. Jal Sahelis assist at the planning stage, and when gaps are found—such as some houses or hamlets being left out—they take action to secure water connections and supply for them as well.

Amid various problems and challenges, I have found their morale and spirits to be high during conversations with them. They take pride in the fact that their work has been praised at the highest levels, and some have received awards or other honors.

Another important contribution of Jal Sahelis is that as women from diverse communities work together on water-related issues, this helps reduce various forms of discrimination in villages.

Recently, I attended a meeting of Jal Sahelis held at the home of a highly respected household. At the front gate, I noticed that only the name of the Jal Saheli had been displayed, and she was identified simply as a Jal Saheli. This small detail indicates the extent to which their work is gaining respect and recognition within their own families—something highly constructive for advancing women's leadership roles.

Despite new roles and responsibilities emerging, the cause of water conservation remains the most important for Jal Sahelis, as community strength and the spirit of voluntarism are vital for conserving water and protecting the environment.

At a broader level, as environmental protection becomes increasingly important, the significance of voluntarism for advancing this cause is becoming clearer. It is increasingly recognized that no matter how well-intentioned various plans and projects for environmental protection and regeneration are, their sustainability and durability are best achieved when they are rooted in community strength, including a spirit of voluntarism.

This is especially true for water conservation efforts in the context of addressing the growing water shortage crisis in vast areas of the world. As implementers of many large development projects are learning, it is easier to build large infrastructure—pipelines, taps, and tanks—than to ensure that water flows through them regularly. This is where water conservation becomes the more critical part of the solution. Conservation, in turn, is fundamentally a matter of strengthening the community and enhancing its sense of responsibility through a strong spirit of voluntarism.

Of course, this does not mean that external help and encouragement are unimportant. Many communities are not only poor but have also experienced various forms of disintegration and harm, often due to factors beyond their control. External help and encouragement—including economic support and technical assistance—are certainly needed, whether from the government, NGOs, or other sources. In fact, I have seen several small villages and hamlets suffering acute water scarcity simply because one or two million rupees could not be arranged for some water conservation work. In such conditions, more funds and support for water conservation can be a lifesaver, while more regular and wider support for improving watersheds, catchments, ponds, wells, and other water sources, as well as rejuvenating rivers, is also necessary.

However, a crucial issue is how these funds and support are provided and utilized. If due care is not taken to strengthen community processes and community work, the potential for durable benefits with wider reach and sustainability may be considerably reduced. Conversely, if care is taken to ensure that the community is strengthened and, in particular, its spirit of voluntary contribution is enhanced, the benefits of any development project or intervention are likely to be not only durable and sustained but also extended by the community in many creative ways.

This realization has been reinforced in many important ways by the recent experience of Jal Sahelis. Recognized by their sky-blue dresses, these water volunteers have become increasingly visible and closely involved in dozens of important water conservation initiatives in the region. They provide much-needed relief to many villages from water scarcity through work related to restoring and repairing water tanks, rejuvenating small rivers, and more routine tasks such as preventing wastage and excessive exploitation of water.

Nearly all Jal Sahelis also manage significant household duties and farm work to which they are committed, yet they still find time to fulfill their various responsibilities as volunteers for improving water adequacy and conservation. As a model of water conservation based on community strength and the spirit of voluntarism, Jal Sahelis have brought considerable hope to many remote villages.

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