The Centre has urged all states to adopt Gujarat government's Water and Sanitation Management Organisation (WASMO) model to achieve drinking water security through community participation.
A letter written by secretary of Department of Drinking Water Supply (Ministry of Rural Development) Shantanu Consul has asked all states' Rural Water Supply secretaries to implement the WASMO model to ensure that community start shouldering the responsibility of drinking water, sanitation and local resource management.
"You may like to use this validated approach/model (of WASMO) with suitable modifications to meet the special requirement of your state to ensure that local community start shouldering the responsibility of drinking water, local water resource management, improved sanitation, and hygiene, thus bringing in long-term sustainability in the sector," Consul wrote in his letter dated May 29.
The letter was written following his visit to Gujarat from May 12-14, where he discussed state's approach in water sector with government and representatives of the civil society organisations.
The Union Secretary suggested that while implementing the model, the states may strengthen their water and sanitation missions on the lines of WASMO, which provides intellectual leadership, works as a think-tank and supports local communities to become self-dependent in water supply and sanitation. WASMO is a recipient of the Prime Minister's Civil Service Award and UN's Public Service Award.
