Lok Sabha Question No. 171 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Community Participation under Atal Bhujal Yojana
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Anurag Sharma, Pratap Chandra Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *171

ANSWERED ON 14.12.2023

## COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION UNDER ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA

| *171                                                                                                        | SHRIANURAG SHARMA                                                                                           | SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:                                                        | Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:                                                        | Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:                                                        |
| (a) the steps taken by the Government to ensure the participation of communities and panchayats under the   | (a) the steps taken by the Government to ensure the participation of communities and panchayats under the   | (a) the steps taken by the Government to ensure the participation of communities and panchayats under the   |
| Atal Bhujal Yojana;                                                                                         | Atal Bhujal Yojana;                                                                                         | Atal Bhujal Yojana;                                                                                         |
| (b) the details of the disbursement linked indicators that the Government follows while giving incentive    | (b) the details of the disbursement linked indicators that the Government follows while giving incentive    | (b) the details of the disbursement linked indicators that the Government follows while giving incentive    |
| disbursement to States under Atal Bhujal Yojana;                                                            | disbursement to States under Atal Bhujal Yojana;                                                            | disbursement to States under Atal Bhujal Yojana;                                                            |
| (c) the criteria for identifying water-stressed areas within each of the seven States identified under Atal | (c) the criteria for identifying water-stressed areas within each of the seven States identified under Atal | (c) the criteria for identifying water-stressed areas within each of the seven States identified under Atal |
| Bhujal Yojana, particularly in Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh along with the details of the areas so   | Bhujal Yojana, particularly in Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh along with the details of the areas so   | Bhujal Yojana, particularly in Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh along with the details of the areas so   |
| identified; and                                                                                             | identified; and                                                                                             | identified; and                                                                                             |
| Government to inculcate behavioural change amongst citizens in this regard? ANSWER                          | Government to inculcate behavioural change amongst citizens in this regard? ANSWER                          | Government to inculcate behavioural change amongst citizens in this regard? ANSWER                          |
| THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI                                                                        | THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI                                                                        | THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI                                                                        |
| ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )                                                                                    | ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )                                                                                    | ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )                                                                                    |
| (a)                                                                                                         |                                                                                                             |                                                                                                             |
| to                                                                                                          |                                                                                                             |                                                                                                             |
| :                                                                                                           |                                                                                                             |                                                                                                             |
| (d)                                                                                                         |                                                                                                             |                                                                                                             |
| A statement                                                                                                 |                                                                                                             |                                                                                                             |
| is laid on the Table of the                                                                                 |                                                                                                             |                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                             | House.                                                                                                      | House.                                                                                                      |

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *171  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  14.12.2023  IN  LOK  SABHA  REGARDING  'COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION UNDER ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA'

(a) Community participation is fundamental to the implementation of Atal Bhujal Yojana. Communities play a crucial role in the collection and dissemination of groundwater information like water level and its trend, water quality, contributing valuable localised groundwater information. They have been trained to use relevant instrument and procedures for this purpose. Based on the knowledge and experience gained, they  are  further  trained  for  the  nuances  of  water  budgeting  which  helps  in  preparation  of  effective, implementable water security plans reflecting  the specific needs and challenges of their panchayats. These plans are presented in gram sabha for wider discussion and participation. Moreover, Social inclusion is adopted  through  mandatory  33%  (minimum)  women's  participation  in  active  decision  making  roles. Community participation ensures the convergence and effective implementation of other related schemes, fostering  a  holistic  and  integrated  approach  to  groundwater  management.  By  adopting  water-efficient practices, communities contribute directly to the sustainability of groundwater resources, aligning with the overarching goals of the scheme.

Community  participation  has  been  ensured  further  through,  regular  meetings/discussions,  various modes  of  Information,  Education  and  communication  (IEC),  awareness  programmes  and  materials developed in vernacular languages. NGOs  are engaged by the participating states as District Implementation  Partners  (DIPs),  to  facilitate  handholding  of  the  communities  at  each  step.  At  Gram Panchayat Level, Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) members are trained so that they can ensure wider, informed public participation.

(b) Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) are result indicators linked to disbursement of funds under the  Incentive  component  of  the  scheme.  Funds  shall  be  disbursed  subject  to  achievement  of  the  result indicators by the States. The five DLIs defined under Atal Bhujal Yojana are as follows:

-  DLI 1: Public disclosure of groundwater data /information and reports
-  DLI 2: Preparation of Community-led Water Security Plans
-  DLI 3: Public financing of approved Water Security Plans through convergence of ongoing /newschemes
-  DLI 4: Adoption of practices for efficient water ruse
-  DLI 5: Improvement in the rate of decline of groundwater levels

(c) Government  of  India  is  implementing  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana  in  7  States,  viz.,  Haryana,  Gujarat, Karnataka,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Rajasthan  and  Uttar  Pradesh.  The  scheme  is  not  being implemented in Odisha. The states were selected according to a number of criteria including degree of groundwater  exploitation  and  degradation,  established  legal  and  regulatory  instruments,  institutional readiness and experience in implementing initiatives related to groundwater management.

Area  covered  under Atal Bhujal Yojana  in the seven participating states can be seen at https://ataljal.mowr.gov.in/Ataljalimages/Data%20Disclosure/Area%20under%20Atal%20Bhujal%20Yoja na.pdf

(d) Holistic efforts are being made under Atal Bhujal Yojana at individual, societal and systemic levels to bring about long term behavioural changes in community members to shift over to best practices for groundwater  management.  Intensive  awareness  programs  and  IEC  activities  are  conducted  at  gram panchayat level to educate people on the consequences of over-extraction and benefits of conservation. The community is actively involved in water budgeting and preparation of Water Security Plans (WSP). Various  water  measurement  equipment  like  water  level  sounder,  water  quality  testing  kit,  rain  gauge, water flow meters etc. are installed in the village and the community members are trained to operate them so  as  to  have  a  demonstrative  effect.  In  convergence  with  various  schemes  of  state  governments, incentives are provided for adopting crop diversification, efficient water use methods like Directly Seeded Rice  (DSR),  mulching,  construction  of  polyhouse  etc.  which  make  shifting  over  to  and  adoption  of practices for efficient water use easier and cost effective.

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