With a view to addressing enormous amounts of waste being generated and dumped on road sides and open spaces, the president, project development officer, elected representatives and staff of Bashettihalli gram panchayat (GP) in Bangalore Rural district of Karnataka are making concerted efforts to manage solid and liquid waste. The move is in keeping with the ODF plus parameters outlined by the nationwide campaign – Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G). The parameters include regular availability and usage of toilets, management of solid and liquid waste, cleanliness of water resources, maintenance of public and household toilets, menstrual hygiene management and awareness on personal hygiene.

Champa Singh, the eldest daughter, lost her father in her early age, left school at 8th to help her mother in agriculture, lost her husband just 2 months after marriage, lost her sister due to lack of treatment had only 2 acres of land with an annual income of Rs 69,000. She joined in SHG and later selected as Krishi Sakhi, got training on agro-ecology, applied the same in her land, crop yield increased, 300 SHG members got inspired to see the result started following her. She is running an NPM shop in her village, her annual income increased to Rs 2,97,000.)

Introduction Karippechal stream flows through Cherthala South, Kadakkarappally and Kanjikuzhi Gram Panchayats of Kanjikuzhi Block Panchayat of Alappuzha District. Over the years, the deposits from the shoreline and river pollution silted the flow of the stream, causing flood and other related disasters during the rainy season. This affected the lives of the people, especially those who were living on the shoreline. The floods also led to unhealthy living conditions such as contamination of drinking water, improper sanitation facilities, waterborne diseases, etc., during the monsoon season. Three local self-government bodies of the district, namely, Kanjikuzhi Block Panchayat (BP), Kadakkarappally GP and Cherthala South GP worked in synergy for revival of the stream by desilting it.

The rainwater harvesting (RWH) system installed atop Rachana Park in Kopargaon township of Ahmednagar in Maharashtra benefits a total of 90 families living in the premises. Rain collected from 1850 sqm of the rooftop effectively charges 7 borewells, providing for all the water needs of the community.This was reported by a Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) team comprising Smt. Richa Bagla, Nodal Officer, Ahmednagar District and Shri. Jitendra Wagh, Deputy Collector, EGS, Ahmednagar who visited the area situated close to Nagar-Manmad highway on 11th July, 2019 to inspect the RWH system.

Introduction Alaburu Gram Panchayat is located in Hagaribommanahalli block of Ballari District, and it has been facing water shortage issues. As a result, the families living there are prone to distress migration. In order to recharge the groundwater table and to increase the irrigation potential of the locality, the villagers of the Gram Panchayat have decided to harvest the rainwater by constructing multiarch check dams so that the effects of the drought are mitigated and durable water conservation assets are created. The check dams would help to prevent soil erosion, conserve soil moisture and recharge aquifer.

Government Senior Secondary School in Makha of East Sikkim has started a new initiative titled – Mero Khata translated My Copy, with a view to reducing paper wastage on account of unnecessary margins.The initiative is a brain child of school teacher Lomas Dhungel, (Founder Cum Developer, Hariyo Makha) under whose leadership the Hariyo Makha – Sikkim against Pollution is being led in the school.

Introduction Nagulapally village is situated in Nagulapally Gram Panchayat of Julapalli block in Peddapalli District, and it is one of the drought-prone regions in the state. Due to low groundwater levels and rocky terrain, the villagers faced severe water problems. In monsoon, all the water drained to the nearby stream limiting the scope of recharging borewells and open wells. In Gram Sabha, it was decided to conserve rainwater by digging the staggered trenches and continuous contour trenches on various locations of the village.

In order to initiate a workable water conservation drive, while enriching the groundwater-table and restoring traditional water bodies, the district administration of water stressed Rewari in Haryana has come out with a district water conservation plan. To begin with, all Gram Panchayats took inventories of existing water related infrastructure in their villages. The data was then integrated at block level and further integrated and compiled at the district Level. This facilitated the development of Rewari District Water Conservation Plan.

INTRODUCTION Badera Bharas Gram Panchayat falls under Bhitarwar block in Gwalior District. Occurrence of low rainfall over many years had created a situation where the villagers could not fulfil their domestic and agricultural needs. During summer, the villagers had to walk around 3 km to fetch drinking water. All the hand pumps and wells had dried up due to depletion of groundwater. Consequently, agricultural productivity declined, and the land had started turning fallow. Overall, the situation was such that the villagers were compelled to migrate. Therefore, the Gram Panchayat decided to undertake different water conservation and harvesting works by constructing check dams, canals and renovation of ponds.

The Union Territory (UT) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in western India that consists of two separate geographical entities: Nagar Haveli – wedged between Maharashtra and Gujarat, and the smaller enclave of Dadra, to the northwest, which is surrounded by Gujarat; was declared open defecation free (ODF) in February 2018. Sustainability of ODF status has been maintained through convergence with all departments for both physical and financial support.