Northeast states join Centre's campaign to promote water literacy among women

Guwahati: Along with the rest of India, northeastern states joined in the 'Women for Water, Water for Women' campaign, an ambitious initiative by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) that seeks to educate women about processes related to water treatment in their own cities.

The initiative is being launched under the MoHUA's Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) in partnership with the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) and the Odisha Urban Academy.

In Meghalaya, the campaign began with a celebration at the Urkhla Water Treatment Plant in Jowai. Officials encouraged the participants to actively participate in the program in order to broaden their knowledge of the water supply system of their own town, stated a released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Shillong.

More than 4,100 women took part on the first day of the campaign which began on Tuesday and will conclude on Thursday. Women across India visited over 250 water plants as they were imparted with "invaluable firsthand knowledge of the intricate processes involved in delivering clean and safe drinking water to households," said a government release.

The overarching goal of this campaign is “to instill a sense of ownership and belonging among women towards water infrastructure.”

State government officials presented flowers and field visit kits to the women who belonged to self-help groups. The kits included water bottles, sippers, glasses, eco-friendly bags, badges, etc. 

The women received expert guidance on water quality testing protocols so that they could ensure the highest standards of water purity for their own communities. "Participants left with a deeper sense of ownership and responsibility towards water infrastructure," noted the release.

"The focus areas of the day encompassed familiarizing and educating women about the AMRUT scheme and its widespread impact, providing comprehensive exposure to water treatment plants, promoting inclusivity through souvenirs and articles crafted by women self-help groups (SHGs), and encouraging the adoption of water-efficient fixtures in households," the Ministry informed.

On the second and third days of the campaign, an additional 10,000 women are expected to visit more than 400 water treatment plants.

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