Journal of Global Resources

Volume 4 (02)
July 2018
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

Page 36-40

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AAPNI YOJNA: A NEW CONCEPT OF WATER SUPPLY IN CHURU DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN
Anju Ojha
Assistant Professor (Geography), Govt. Lohia PG College, Churu (Rajasthan) India
Email:draj2280@gmail.com
Abstract: Aapni Yojna is a rural water supply project of unusual size and complexity. Theproject area covers about 20,000 sq. km. in three districts of northern Rajasthan viz, Churu,Hanumangarh and Jhunjhunun. The Project is co-funded by the Government of Germany
through its development bank, Kfw. The bulk of the investment is dedicated to the technicalworks implemented by the Project Management Cell, a special unit of the Public HealthEngineering Department of Rajasthan. The project's main objective is to improve the healthstatus and living conditions of the target population. Sustainable water supply is ensured fromthe Indira Gandhi Canal, as ground water is insufficient and saline. A review of past policies
programs and progress of rural water supply brings out that the Indian government’s efforts toprovide adequate quantity of safe drinking water have yielded significant results. Yet, the goal ofproviding adequate quantity of potable water to all persons living in rural areas has not beenachieved for a number of reasons. The paper describes the basic concept and its impact in thestudy area.
Introduction
The Project's main objective is to improve the health status and living conditions of the target
population. Sustainable supply is ensured from the Indira Gandhi Canal, as groundwater isinsufficient and saline. Aapni yojna was stared from 1994 with the financial help German
development bank Kfw but it came in the field or villages after 2000 AD. The main objective of
the project was community development through community participation and theimplementation of the activities like reduce of wastage of water, contribution by the community
towards cost recovery, to create awareness and responsibility for the consumption of water, toimplement the construction of low cost sanitation facilities etc. To achieving these objectives
Aapni yojna completed number of works in the project area. About 234 water distribution units in
Churu district. Apart from this 178 women group formed in Churu District. The one of the mostimportant committee at village level, formed at the beginning of the project is called Water and
Health Committee (WHC) consisted of community members or villagers, elected by community
itself. The committee, in general, is responsible to oversee all activities related to water
distribution and management. About 87.31 percent people of Churu district reported that WHC
members were formed by villagers itself. Aapni Yojna is a successful project and unique innature and we have involved consumers right from the beginning. We have introduced thepayment collection system to cover the operation and maintenance cost, but presently theoperation and maintenance is in the hands of PHED. People have a faith that the PMC'sservices are more reliable than services of any other agency.
Demand Driven Approach
It was the first project in Rajasthan to employ a community-based, demand-driven approach inwhich the local people were involved in planning and overseeing the construction of the systems
and has been responsible for the operation and maintenance of water supply.
Study Area
Churu district is the part of Thar desert located in the western part of Rajasthan State
extending between 27° 24' to 29° 00’ North latitudes and 73° 40' to 75° 41' East longitudes.
The district covers an area of 13784.38 sq. kms. with population of 20,39,547 (Census 2011). It
is bounded in the north by Sri Ganganagar district; in the west by Bikaner district; in the east by36

Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan and Hissar of Haryana; and in the south by Nagaur
district of Rajasthan.

Methodology
The sample study was conducted in 08 villages of 04 tehsils selecting 02 villages from eachtehsil. The criteria of selection are villages having Aapni yojna water supply activities andsizeable population of livestock. The data collected with the help of structured questionnaire andpersonal interview. About 20 percent households have been covered.
Awareness of Water Conservation
The table shows that about 75 percent people are very well aware about water conservation
measures. About 17 percent villagers are not aware about water conservation measures in thestudy area. About 08 percent people have not given any response. This shows that awarenessregarding water conserving among public. The details are as follows.

Response
YesNoNo Response
Total

Table 01: Awareness of Water Conservation
Percent
75178100

Source: Field Survey

Progress in Water Conservation
The main objective of the Aapni yojna is to reduce wastage of water and to create awarenessand responsibility for consumption of water among community. About 65 percent villagers ofChuru district reported that awareness level regarding water conservation among community
has been increased after introduction of Aapni yojna. About 27 percent villagers of said that37

water conservation has not been improved after introduction of Aapni yojna. Whereas 08 percent
villagers of has not given any answer. They just said don’t know whether any water conservation
system is improved or not. The following table shows the details of progress in water
conservation system in the project area.

Response
YesNoNo Response
Total

Table 02: Progress in Water Conversation SystemPercent
652708100

Source: Field Survey

Water Quality
Water quality in the project area is very good at the beginning of the project but nowadays waterquality has not maintained properly. This is marked by about 60 percent people of study area.
On the other hand about 30 percent people are not happy with water quality. They said thatsome time water is not filtered and treated properly. About 10 percent people have not answered
related to quality of water. They are not happy with the present water supply so they don’t give
any response.
Table 03: Quality of Water
Response
Good Quality
Not Good
No Response
TotalPercent
6030
10100.00

Source: Field Survey

Judicious Use of Water
The following table shows the response of villagers related to use of water in proper way. About
66 percent villagers of use water in judicious way. About 23 percent villagers of the study area
are not satisfied the use of water in proper way. They said that villagers are using water in otheractivities such as kitchen garden, construction, animal feeding etc. About 11 percent people
have been not given any answer. The details of water us in proper way are as follows.
Table 04: Judicious of Water
Response
YesNoNo Response
TotalPercent
66
2311100

Source: Field Survey

Health Improvement
In most villages there was not enough water to drink before introduction of Aapni yojna. Waterfrom kunds was rationed since it had to last throughout the year. It was a common experiencethat people feared that guests would ask for water to drink. Water level in wells was normallyvery deep and had high levels of fluoride, salts and microbes that affect the health of the people.
Health education and women participation is one of the major objectives of the Aapni Yojna
project. The objective of the project is to alleviate the health status of the people. The healtheducation programme seeks to identify the key health problems such as water and sanitation
related, unhygienic behaviors and beliefs, and to provide education to realize the full healthimpact of the facilities provided. Until water supply is commissioned, people had no interest in
health education. Their priority was water of any quality. The following table shows that 56
percent people agreed about health improvement after intervention of Aapni yojna. About 39

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percent people said that there is no improvement of health after introduction of Aapni yojna.
About 05 percent people have no idea of any health improvement in their villages.
Table 05: Health Improvement
Response
YesNoNo Response
TotalPercent
56
3905
103

Source: Field Survey

Women’s Role in Water Conservation
The following table shows the participation of women in water conservation activities. About 76
percent people agreed about the cooperation and participation of water conservation activities.
Only few persons were disagree about the role of women in water conservation activities i. e. 15
percent in study area. The details are as given below.

Response
YesNoNo Response
TotalTable 06: Role of Women’s in Water Conservation
Percent761509
100

Source: Field Survey

Social Prestige
The project area had suffered from water scarcity, low rainfall, deep ground water and poor
availability of surface water make problem critical. The water supply, sanitation and healtheducation project called Aapni Yojna being implemented in the study area has done remarkablejob in involving communities. Now people are getting fresh and sweet water regularly. Thefollowing table shows that 67 percent people o feel that their social prestige has been increased
after introduction of Aapni yojna and availability of fresh and sweet water. Before this project
their marriage’s and social relation was very poor. Now a days social relation has been
increased and there is no problem of marriage of their son and daughter. The following tableshows the level of increased of social prestige.
Table 07: Social Prestige
Response
YesNoNo Response
TotalPercent
67
21
12100

Source: Field Survey

Collection of User Charges
The WHCs have managed to collect and deposit the water collection charges from individualhousehold. The villagers have been regularly paying for the water consumed by them and there
has been no major problems reported towards collection and deposit of user charges by theWHCs to PMC. This is a big achievement and good example of financial self-sustainability ofcommunity-based rural water supply and sanitation scheme in India. Not only the government isfree from providing subsidies, but also the committees are using their own funds for operationand maintenance, extending the physical infrastructure and social development work in thevillage and reaching towards a more quality of life.

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Conclusion
Water is being managed as an economic asset rather than a free commodity in the project area.
The Aapni Yojna has created modern water supply infrastructure and institutionalized community
participation in northwestern Rajasthan. A highlight of this project is the availability of water, 24hours a day and seven days a week. The village has been considered as a focal point for water
development. In Aapni Yojna emphasis has been laid on stakeholders’ participation at all levels,from planning, design, location, implementation and management. The user representation andcommunity participation have been institutionalized in introducing, implementation andmanagement of user charges for water under the Aapni Yojna. As the concluding remarks, it issaid that such kind of successes can be replicated in other sectors also provided a proper modalof community participation is adopted. Primarily the focus should be given to strengthen thepackages of services and technical plan. Both of these two should be designed to serve theneed of people in a right manner. Second important thing is to involve the people in planning,
implementation, operation and maintenance of the system. The functionaries must have a faith
in the capacity of target communities. A sense of ownership for the system needs to be
developed in the target communities. At community level, the existing community groups suchas users group, women groups and SHGs should be continued in the proposed structure. Theirmajor role should be involving them in local level reviewing and ensuring community’sinvolvement in planning, organizing, managing the user charges for water. At the village’s level,
the existing role in the collection and management of village level fund. Further, it isrecommended to strengthen their capacity and strength in collection and management of user
charges through capacity building programmes. The Pani Panchayat should work at the cluster
level for coordinating and reviewing the user charges.
References
1. Achievements (2003-04) Aapni Yojna, Churu
2. Ahmad Enayat (1997) "Social and Geographical aspects of Human settlements" classicalPublication New Delhi.
3. Census Handbook of Churu District (2011) Department of Census. Govt. of India, New Delhi
4. Singh R.B. (1986) "Research in Geography Land use change and Sustainable Development(vol.1)" A.P.H. Publishing Corporation Delhi.
5. Statistical abstract, District Churu (1017) Directorate of Economic and Statistical, Rajasthan,Jaipur.

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