Civil Society voices, vulnerable communities and localized platforms for water quality challenges

The Arsenic Knowledge and Action Network hosted by SaciWATERs and the Fluoride Knowledge and Action Network hosted by INREM Foundation have come together for a European Union supported action for the next 4 years titled ‘Civil Society voices, vulnerable communities and localized platforms for water quality challenges’ to build people centric district platforms in 8 arsenic and fluoride districts across India, in order to complement the National Water Quality Sub-Mission on Arsenic and Fluoride. SaciWATERs,as the co-applicant will be working in two districts each in Assam (Jorhat, Nalbari) and Bihar (Buxar, Bhagalpur) The overall action is led by INREM Foundation.

The project will address the problems of arsenic and fluoride with an integrated approach with Safe drinking Water, Improved Nutrition, Medical Rehabilitation and better Health access being the primary modes of action.  The objectives of the action are as follows:

1. To build capacity of target groups (civil society, government agencies, communities) in 8 districts of 4 states for integrated mitigation of fluoride/arsenic contamination.
2. To support and devise mechanisms for the National Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM) to enable ecologically sustainable and equitable service delivery to arsenic and fluoride affected regions
3. To build and empower local people-centric platform supporting 1000-1200 habitations of these 8 districts, connect with the respective district administration
4. Leverage experiences from these 8 districts for learning and replication through the NWQM with the nationwide network of CSOs addressing safe water and health issues

The overall work packages which will meet the above objectives are as follows:

Work Package 1: Building CSO and government capacity and connecting with district administration through people-centric platform
Work Package 2: Supporting NWQSM and related programmes in water quality affected regions through people-centric district platform
Work Package 3: Leveraging district level experiences towards state and national programmes