Compiled by Nitya Jacob, Resource Person and Sunetra Lala, Research Associate
From Sireesha Patnaik, Friends of Women World Banking, Ahmedabad
I work with Friends of Women World Banking (FWWB), on Water and Sanitation which is a pan-India programme. Currently, we partner with six microfinance institutions in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra , Karnataka, and Uttarakhand and have been able to touch lives of about 2,000 women beneficiaries and their households in providing access to water and sanitation.
FWWB-India initiated interventions on infrastructure credit in 2000, that gained momentum in 2008 – 09 with the launch of FWWB-I’s Water and Sanitation ‘WATSAN’ Programme. The main objective of the programme is to improve the overall quality of life of women by facilitating access to water and sanitation through credit services and creating awareness on hygiene and sanitation through our partners.
FWWB-I also assists its partner MFIs in training and capacity building, by linking them up with technical consultants, training on hygiene and sanitation awareness, demand creation, technical training, etc. Following our monitoring visits and discussions with WATSAN partner organizations and industry experts, what has emerged clearly to us is the immediate need for FWWB-I to play a deeper role in implementing the water and sanitation loan product.
For sanitation, our experience shows we need to start with training and awareness on health, hygiene; why sanitation and its effective utilization; essentially an IEC (Information Education and Communication). While there is a lot of IEC material available, we realized that there is a need to create standard training material, available in different languages, which is easily accessible on net. This will help organizations to save time and investment from developing the same material. Besides it would also be a valuable contribution towards addressing the MDGs (Millennium Development Goal - 7c).
We request you to provide us the following-
1. IEC material you or your partners have developed. If you have soft copies please send us the links.
2. How have you used the material, and how effective has it been? Please let us know if you have user inter-personal communication, mass contact, or other methods.
3. Please suggest a framework for organizing this material that can be modified as per local conditions.
Hence we look forward to create a high quality standardized IEC material with inputs from expert organizations in this sector. In this regard we would like to have your opinion, sharable materials and suggestions for the same.
Responses were received, with thanks, from
1. Satya Prakash Mehra, Rajputana Society of Natural History, Rajasthan
2. Sanjay Joshi, Consultant, Ahmedabad
3. V. Gangi Redy, Rural Reconstruction and Development Society, Nellore
4. Suman K.A., Change Planet Partners Climate Innovation Foundation, Hyderabad
5. P. C. Misra, Indian Institute of Youth and Development, Kandhamal
6. Sunetra Lala, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi
7. Nitya Jacob, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi
Summary of Responses
Information Education and Community (IEC) is a prerequisite for water, sanitation and hygiene programmes for demand creation. However, even though the government and many agencies have earmarked funds for developing material and using it effectively, this activity has not found many takers. The approach to water and sanitation remains largely supply-driven and IEC becomes an adjunct to hardware activities.
There is a wealth of material in various languages already developed and available for use. Some agencies have used it well at the local level. The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation and UNICEF have jointly developed several IEC kits, used by sanitation coordinators. These are also available from the state communications and capacity building units in local languages.
The Udaipur office of the Department of Science and Technology has relevant material that several NGOs have used for creating mass awareness about hygiene and sanitation. Another organization in Gujarat , Utthan, has developed material to promote sanitation. It provides loans to women to build toilets. The Gates Foundation conducted a study on Assessing Microfinance For Water And Sanitation: Exploring Opportunities for Sustainable Scaling Up, in 2008. The WASH Institute in Tamil Nadu has developed a lot of material for capacity building in this area.
The Indian Institute of Youth and Development, Orissa, has developed its own IEC and behaviour change communication material. A USAID project for hygiene improvement, for reducing diarrhoeal disease by promoting key hygiene practices, has developed a manual and tools for sanitation marketing, available in soft form. It draws on international experiences and is quite relevant for India .
Women from SHGs have received training as motivators to reach families in Purulia, West Bengal, with messages about water, sanitation and hygiene. In Kerala, the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment has developed a module on water quality, used in several schools around the Vembanad Lake . WaterAid has designed and executed a communications strategy through SHGs in Chhattisgarh that has proved to be sustainable and successful. In Andhra Pradesh, the AP Farmer Managed Groundwater System developed farmers water schools to educate farmers about water management. It has covered 40,000 farmers over four years. Terres Des Homes, with its partner Prayas has set up hygiene committees in some schools in the Andamans. These committees inform children about health and hygiene, including MHM.
There is other material that can be used while developing IEC campaigns. For example, a paper on the real cost of free water such as is provided at stand posts. This can be used while making an argument in favour of household water connections. Another analyses water governance in Delhi and suggests city-wide options for programming for NGOs. Terres de Hommes and Prayas have initiated a programme in the Andamans that focuses on improving the knowledge and practice regarding sanitation and hygiene of schoolchildren.
This discussion sought to consolidate existing material on WASH to reduce the time, money and efforts spent in developing similar material. It approached the issue from the perspective of organizations working on micro-finance, who want to create a demand for loans for WASH services. They are experts in micro-finance but need guidance on generating demand for water, sanitation and hygiene. Rather than re-inventing the wheel in developing IEC material, we have tried to bring to the table the existing body of knowledge, that they can build on.
Comparative Experiences
From Nitya Jacob, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi
Andamans
Terre des Hommes Foundation (TdH) improves menstrual hygiene management in schools by innovative communcation strategies, Little Andaman and Baratang
TdH has been providing information on menstrual hygiene to school hygiene committees. This includes use of illustrated flip charts and moving models. Communication tools like comics to help children express themselves and also communicate messages simply on other hygiene issues have also been used during this process. The process revealed that communication on the issue needs to be directed not only at girls and boys but also at teachers and parents. Read more.
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems (APFAMGS) Project helps Farmers to deal with Water Scarcities
APFAMGS developed Farmer Water Schools as a communications tool to help farmers deal with the problem of water crisis. It aimed to build capacities of communities to manage shortages. The process involved bringing together farmers to discuss and experiment with their groundwater resources through a hands-on approach. Farmers who have passed through the schools have now become a pressure group for better demand side groundwater management. Read more.
Chhattisgarh
Self Help Group Members successfully involved in implementing Communication Strategy, Raigarh
WaterAid India has developed a communication strategy by involving self-help groups (SHGs) to promote its hygiene messages. With its partners, WAI developed a water sanitation hygiene manual and began a training of trainers programme. These 350 women were trained to handle the manual in their SHG meetings and received feedback on the manual. This strategy was very successful in reaching a large number of women with hygiene messages. Read more.
Kerala
"Lessons of Water" Module Educates Schoolchildren on EE, Vembanad Lake
ATREE developed a wetland conservation module called "Jalapaadom," which is being implemented through 50 schools (a few colleges and TTIs are also involved). Every school has a Wetland Study Center (WSC) with about 100 students each (classes 6-9). The module, based on the "Wetland Module," has 58 topics and suggests practical activities for students. A compendium of the hypothesis testing methods and reports done by WSC members is being developed and will be available in 2009. Read more.
West Bengal
NGO-managed water testing laboratories help in arsenic mitigation programme
The Government of West Bengal established 20 NGO-managed water testing laboratories, with UNICEF support, to detect arsenic in groundwater. These institutions helped in developing the database for the arsenic mitigation programme. Additionally, one laboratory for each of the 3 blocks have been set up to improve the access to the services uniformly. Some 80 NGOs now have water testing laboratories and systems for domestic filters production. Read more.
Related Resources
Recommended Documentation
From Nitya Jacob, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi
Jalswarajya Project - Best Practice Notes
Best Practice Notes; by Scott Wilson Capacity Building Consortium; Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Government of Maharashtra; Mumbai;
Available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-18080902.zip (ZIP Size: 4MB)
A set of 20 best practice notes on how under the Jalswarajya Project, Maharashtra the gram panchayats were involved in delivering Watsan services
Hygiene Songs
Booklet; by Gramalaya; Tamil Nadu;
Available at http://www.gramalaya.in/pdf/Songs%20English%20and%20Tamil%202.pdf (PDF; Size: 248KB)
Booklet containing hygiene songs developed for school children to effectively communicate WATSAN messages in schools
Wetland Module
Module; Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE); Kerala
Available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res25090803.doc (Doc Size: 35 KB)
Lists all the topics of the environmental education module developed by ATREE, which focuses on wetlands and is based on practical learning through exercises and activities
Demistifying Science for Sustainable Development: Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems (APFAMGS) Project
Report; by Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems (APFAMGS) Project; Hyderabad; May 2007;
Available at http://www.slideshare.net/indiawaterportal/farmer-water-schools-of-apfamgs-program
Describes the unique initiative of educating farmers about the existing groundwater resources and managing the same by themselves by sustainable farming
Kids Walk for Water
Article; by Press Trust of India; New Delhi; 2009;
Available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-25110901.pdf (PDF; 120KB)
Water advocacy campaign organised by UNESCO and WWF-India, in which over 5000 students participated in a rally to create awareness about water conservation
Decentralized Wastewater Management applying concept “Waste to Resource” – An overview of community initiatives in rural & urban sector
Document; by Ajit Seshadri; The Vigyan Vijay Foundation; New Delhi
Available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-24031001.doc (DOC; Size: 2.4MB)
Paper demonstrates the use of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems approach to wastewater treatment is more effective than conventional approaches
Profiling “Informal City” of Delhi - Policies, Norms, Institutions & Scope of Intervention
Report; by Kishore Kumar Singh and Shikha Shukla; WaterAid India; New Delhi; 2005;
Available at http://www.wateraid.org/documents/delhi_study.pdf (PDF; Size: 2.51MB)
It attempts to understand the context in which the urban poor live in Delhi, and the role of slum women in providing water and sanitation services in their dwellings
Drinking Distilled Water - The Truth About The Health Benefits Of Distilled Water
Artilce; by Josh Neumann; Ezine Articles; USA; September 2006;
Available at http://ezinearticles.com/?Drinking-Distilled-Water---The-Truth-About-The-Health-Benefits-Of-Distilled-Water&id=640741
Articles explains how distillation is probably the best water purification method to eliminate all pollution and disease causing organisms
Assessing micro-finance for water and sanitation: Exploring opportunities for scaling up (from Suman K.A., Change Planet Partners Climate Innovation Foundation, Hyderabad)
Report; by Meera Mehta; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ; Ahmedabad; July 2008;
Available at http://www.gatesfoundation.org/learning/Documents/assessing-microfinance-wsh-2008.pdf (PDF; Size: 1.05MB)
Stresses the importance of microfinance in financing water supply and sanitation services including small loans to household borrowers, and funding of small projects
Sanitation marketing for managers: Guidance and tools (from Sunetra Lala, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi)
Training Manual; by Name; USAID; USA; July 2010;
Available at
http://www.hip.watsan.net/redir/content/download/4718/27261/file/Sanitation%20Marketing%20for%20Managers%20-%20Guidance%20and%20Tools%20-%20July%202010.pdf (PDF; Size: 1.77MB)
Guides professionals in the fields of sanitation and marketing to assess market for sanitation products and services, and use the results to design a multi-pronged strategy
Recommended Contacts and Experts
From Nitya Jacob, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi
Lakshmi Murthy, Vikalpdesign, Rajasthan
214, Pancharathna Complex, Bedla Road, Udaipur 313004, Rajasthan; Tel: 91-294-2451411; lakshmi@vikalpdesign.com; http://www.vikalpdesign.com/home.html
Has done some pioneering work in Rajasthan on communication for menstrual hygiene using local material in a very innovative way
Recommended Organizations and Programmes
From Nitya Jacob, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi
Gramalaya, Tamil Nadu
No 12, 4th Cross West, Thillainagar, Tiruchirapalli 620018, Tamil Nadu; Tel: 91-431-4021563; gramalaya@hotmail.com;http://www.gramalaya.in/aboutus.php
Work with anganwadis and schools in rural areas of Tamil Nadu to promote hygiene practices among children
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi
73, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi 110003; Tel: 91-11-24690401, 24691410; Fax: 91-11-24627521,
24691410; newdelhi@unicef.org; http://www.unicef.org/wes/index_emergency.html
Provides immediate assistance to ensure continued and effective functioning of water and sanitation systems during emergencies
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore
659 5th A Main, Hebbal, Bangalore 560024, Karnataka; Tel: 91-80-23533942; Fax: 91-80-23530070 info@atree.org ; http://www.atree.org/ce-overview.html
Organization conducts field-oriented educational programmes and workshops for students and teachers to create awareness on environmental issues
WaterAid India, New Delhi
C-3 Gate 1, Above Nursery School, Nelson Mandela Marg. Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070; Tel: 91-11-46084400; Fax: 91-11-46084411; wai@wateraid.org;
http://www.wateraid.org/india/default.asp
An independent organization enabling people to gain access to safe drinking water, has developed a communication strategy on water by involving self-help groups
Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems (APFAMGS), Andhra Pradesh
Block No. A-2(C), First Floor, Huda Commercial Complex, Tarnaka Hyderabad 500007 Andhra Pradesh; Tel: 91-40-27014730; Fax: 91-40-27014937; plapfamgs@sify.com;
http://www.apfamgs.org/Default.aspx; Contact K. A. S. Mani; Project Leader; Tel: 91-40-27014730; info@apfamgs.org
Launched in July 2003, the APFAMGS project is a partnership with farmers for implementing demand side groundwater management concept
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), New Delhi
B 5/29, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi 110029; Tel: 91-11-26713000; Fax: 91-11-26713001; newdelhi@unesco.org;
http://portal.unesco.org/geography/en/ev.php-URL_ID=5972&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Organised a water advocacy campaign in New Delhi, including a rally which was attended by over 5,000 children
Department of Drinking Water Supply, New Delhi
Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, 9th Floor, Paryavarn Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003; Tel: 91-11-24361043; Fax: 91-11-24364113; jstm@water.nic.in; http://ddws.gov.in/handwash/
Central government department responsible for providing drinking water and sanitation services and has developed IEC materials to promote hand washing
Terre des Hommes Foundation, Switzerland
Avenue de Montchoisi 15, CH 1006 Lausanne, Switzerland; Tel: 41-58-6110666; Fax: 41-58-6110677; info@tdh.ch;http://www.tdh.ch/website/tdhch.nsf/0/indiaE
In Andhra Pradesh and on the Andaman Islands, Terre des Hommes is supporting health and access to water and sanitation projects, including menstrual hygiene management
PRAYAS, New Delhi
59, Tughlakabad institutional Area, New Delhi 110062; Tel: 91-11-29956244; prayas@del6.vsnl.net.in;http://www.prayasonline.org/what_we_do.html
Has worked through school hygiene committees on the island of Little Andaman and Baratang on the issues of menstrual hygiene management
Utthan, Gujarat(from Sanjay Joshi, Consultant, Ahmedabad)
36,Chitrakut Twins, B/h Management Enclave, Nehru Park, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad 380015, Gujarat; Tel: 91-79-26751023; utthan.ahmedabad@gmail.com;
http://utthangujarat.org/aboutus.htm
Has developed IEC materials on promoting sanitation, and has provided soft loans to women to build toilets
Rural Reconstruction and Development Society, Andhra Pradesh(from V. Gangi Redy)
Maruthi Nagar, Nellatur Post, Gudur Mandal 524102, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh; Tel: 91-8624-222589; rrds111@gmail.com; http://www.rrds.org/about_us.html
Provides community sensitization, capacity building and process development in the WASH sector in Andhra Pradesh
WASH Institute, Tamil Nadu(from Suman K.A., Change Planet Partners Climate Innovation Foundation, Hyderabad)
5-296, Anandhagiri 7th Street, Kodaikanal 624101, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu; Tel: 91-4542- 240881; Fax: 91-4542-240882; office@washinstitute.org;
http://www.washinstitute.org/about_washi.php
TrainS and groom water, sanitation, hygiene and environmental professional and other functionaries involved in the WASH sector, and has also developed IEC materials for this
United States Agency for International Development, New Delhi(from Sunetra Lala, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi)
USAID, American Embassy, New Delhi 110021; Tel: 91-11-24198000; Fax: 91-11-24198612; http://www.usaid.gov/in/about_us/USAID_India.html
Has brought out a manual with guidance and tools for designing sanitation marketing programmes
Related Consolidated Replies
Developing a Communication Strategy on MHM, Shweta Patnaik, WaterAid UK India Regional Office (East), Bhubaneswar (Experiences; Referrals). Water Community, Solution Exchange India,
Issued 19/05/2010. Available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/cr-se-wes-12031001.pdf (PDF, Size: 308KB)
Seeks inputs on processes that agencies have followed to bring about behaviour change and develop communications strategies for MHM
Developing Communication Strategies for the Drinking Water Sector, Dara Johnston, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi (Examples; Referrals). Water Community, Solution Exchange India,
Issued 28/12/2009. Available at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/cr-se-wes-03120901.pdf (PDF, Size: 152KB)
Seeks inputs on strategies that agencies have followed to develop communications strategies for drinking water, what has been the process they followed and the results
Responses in Full
Satya Prakash Mehra, Rajputana Society of Natural History, Rajasthan
It is an appreciable move to collect the materials to save the energy and manage time. I would like to draw attention towards the material developed by Department of Science & Technology on the same issues. I wonder if they are available on internet but you could contact the central office in Delhi as well as state offices of concerned state. Since I know from Rajasthan, it is there in Jaipur. Lot of stuff is available with our team of Rajputana Society of Natural History provided by Udaipur regional Office of Department of Science & Technology.
The effectiveness of these materials could not be commented by me but yes it was very useful for us in the rural areas where RSNH is executing its work on improvement of water conditions along with mass awareness on hygienic and sanitation fields.
Sanjay Joshi, Consultant, Ahmedabad
I think Utthan Ahmedabad/ Bhavnagar have excellent material and experiences in promoting sanitation. One of the key aspects is providing soft loans to women to build toilets. That has in fact acted as the best awareness / educational strategy. The loan return is 100%. But it has changed the lives of the women and their daughters. Check them out; they may help you in extending help in your endeavour.
V. Gangi Redy, Rural Reconstruction and Development Society, Nellore
Water and Sanitation Credit Programme for women is very needed. Our organisation is interesting to join as partner for implementation of this program in remote areas such as Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh. We have promoted women SHB groups. Our website is www.rrds.org.
Suman K.A., Change Planet Partners Climate Innovation Foundation, Hyderabad
This is an important post. To address the questions broadly, Gates Foundation's not so recent study on scaling up opportunities in the WATSAN sector ( http://www.gatesfoundation.org/learning/Documents/assessing-microfinance-wsh-2008.pdf) followed by the rich content from WASH Institute ( http://www.washinstitute.org/about_washi.php ) could prove useful.
P. C. Misra, Indian Institute of Youth and Development, Kandhamal
Thanks a lot for your mail and informing us about FWWB and your focus on WASH. I have worked 20 years in WASH sector and 35 years in NGO sector and we, in our organisation, have brought out more than 15 IEC/BCC materials. Some are in soft copy and others in hard copies. If you are coming to Odisha sometime, can we meet for furthering the work that you propose? At present I am the Director of an Organisation named IIYD and Convener of the Freshwater Action Network (FANSA) India . Please supply some more information about your organisation.
Sunetra Lala, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi
The USAID Hygiene Improvement Project, that aims to reduce diarrhoeal disease by promoting key hygiene improvement practices, has brought out a manual with guidance and tools for designing a sanitation marketing programme. It guides processionals in the fields of sanitation and marketing to complete two important steps – assess market for sanitation products and services, and use the results to design a multi-pronged strategy. There is a series of well-defined activities around stakeholders – households, private sector and NGOs. It draws on experiences from other countries that may be very relevant in India . You can download a soft copy of this manual from Sanitation Marketing for Managers - Guidance and Tools - July 2010.pdf (PDF, 1.77 Mb)
Nitya Jacob, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi
I am sending a compilation of inputs you have provided to earlier discussions on related topics. I have given your name along with the discussion you responded to. In some cases, I have shortened the original response. Please note, this is a not an exhaustive list; there is far more that you have shared over the years. However, this is what I could find in short order. I understand some of you may have moved to other jobs, but I have mentioned the organisation you were with when you had written.
Sunil, Icarus Design Pvt Ltd, Bangalore in Obstetric Outcomes and Health Indications due to Arsenic Contamination in Water
Distillation is probably the best water purification method to eliminate all pollution and disease causing organisms. There is a school of thought that drinking distilled water is not good for the body as it is devoid of minerals. There is another school which says that we are feeding our bodies with enough minerals from food so there is no need for additional minerals from water. I am with the latter school. Here is a link that advocates drinking distilled water - http://ezinearticles.com/?Drinking-Distilled-Water---The-Truth-About-The-Health-Benefits-Of-Distilled-Water&id=640741
R. Seenivasan, DHAN Foundation, Madurai , Tamil Nadu in Mitigation of Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater
There are many resources available on the current and completed research on the subject in MIT civil engineering department's website. Also a list of resources is available on this subject at the following link: Clearing House for Low Cost Household Water Treatment Technologies, ttp://web.mit.edu/watsan/tech_hwts_chemical_kanchanarsenicfilter.html
Jim Baldwin in Inputs for Consultations with Gram Panchayats on Watsan
The World Bank-funded Jalswarajya project in Maharashtra was an excellent opportunity for NGOs, consultants and support organizations to develop best practices in the field. I worked as a consultant with the Scott Wilson Capacity Building Consortium up to 2007. A number of best practice notes were produced by our team that I recommend to all practitioners (ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-18080902.zip; Zip file, Size: 4MB)
Joshua Rufus Godfrey V., Water.org, Tiruchirapally, in Bringing About Behavioural Changes in WASH
Gramalaya works among anganwadis and schools in rural areas to promote hygiene practices among children. The tools/means/channel used to reach them effectively is by Hygiene Songs (use the link to view few hygiene rhymes http://www.gramalaya.in/pdf/Songs%20English%20and%20Tamil%202.pdf) and games that have relevance to communicate the messages effectively. The other channel is through the community based organizations ie. Women Self Help Groups, AWASH (Association for Water Sanitation and Hygiene -AWASH is the mixed group, where both men and women have equal stake). These key stakeholders are trained frequently in the resource centre (NIWAS – National Institute for Water and Sanitation http://www.gramalaya.in/NIWAS.php) set up by the organization where there is display of low cost toilet models; and WATSAN and hygiene messages in print and AV formats.
For mass awareness and call for action, the organization observes the World Toilet Day, World Water Day with special exhibitions, rallies, and meetings. All these mass awareness activities are planned and implemented by the federation of AWASH. During these programs the organization works with media partners to broadcast hygiene messages and answer public queries related to water, sanitation and hygiene.
S N Dave, UNICEF, Kolkata, in Improving Water and Sanitation Services in Bihar
Women SHGs in West Bengal represent mostly the vulnerable and poor sections. They have undergone empowerment training and have formed clusters and federations. They have been identified as the motivators and vehicle to reach the un-reached families through sanitation and hygiene in Purulia district and the results after their involvement especially for social mobilization are very encouraging. The SGSY cell within Panchayat and Rural Development department coordinates this activity and facilitates capacity building of all district level rural development cell and SHG federations.
Latha Bhaskar, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Kerala, in New Trends in Environmental Education
I wish to highlight the environmental education module implemented by Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) as part of our wetland conservation programme in the Vembanad wetlands of Kerala. This module is named as "JALAPAADOM' (Lessons of water) and is implemented through 50 schools around the Lake . Wetland study centers (WSC) are set up in these 50 schools and in each center there are around 100 students from 6th to 9th standards. A few colleges and TTIs are also involved. Our Environmental Education module mainly focus around wetlands, based on a "WETLAND MODULE" with 58 topics (expanding each letters of the word wetland) developed for the purpose, as listed out in the table accessible at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res2509 0803.doc (Size: 35 KB).
Johnson Rhenius Jeyaseelan, WaterAid, Lucknow , in Developing Communications Strategies for the Drinking Water Sector
WaterAid India has developed a good communication strategy through self-help groups (SHGs). We want to expand our reach with hygiene messages. One of our partners, LSS in Raigarh, had strong SHGs. We made a water sanitation hygiene manual focusing on six lessons. This was a training of trainers and we trained 20 SHG leaders. These 20 were divided into 5 groups and each of them trained around 350 SHG women in turn. The TOT session was for five days and the latter training was for 3 days. The 350 women who were trained by each TOT were trained to handle the manual in their SHG meetings. This strategy was very successful in reaching very large no of women with hygiene education and was also sustainable. Members who are interested can write to us to enable us to share a report on the above and also the SHG module for WASH developed through these SHGs.
K A S Mani, Consultant, Kerala, in Developing Communication Strategies for the Drinking Water Sector
The FAO-funded Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems (APFAMGS) project has successfully implemented the Farmer Water School (FWS) concept as a communication tool for demystifying the science of water, building skills, capacities of communities for managing water shortage, removing the secrecy and confidentiality with respect to technical data all leading to improved water governance for effectively managing water distress. Over a period of 4 years more than 40,000 farmers have benefitted from the FWS. The focus of the project has been in building/strengthening institutions at the habitation (Groundwater Management Committee-GMC) and at a micro basin level (Hydrological Unit Network-HUN) to act as a pressure group to enable farmers to adopt Demand Side Groundwater Management concepts (reduce wastage and improve water use efficiency). Local art forms like Kalajatha have been successfully used in communicating with them.
As part of FWS, farmers within a hydrological unit come together to explore, discuss, experiment, and thereby, be better informed about concepts of groundwater, and crop-water management. Usually a group of 30 farmers meet once in every 20 days to engage in a discovery and experiential learning activity. The group consists of both men and women farmers. In FWS, the hydrological unit, and the farmer’s field are the primary learning material.
The curriculum includes
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Long-term experiments and short studies – especially those related to crop-water, soil moisture, water-levels measurement, etc.
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Special topics based on farmers emerging needs
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Icebreakers
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Energizers, and
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Team building exercises.
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FWS curriculum reflects the local needs of the farmers and the physical features of the particular hydrological unit. Adaptation of the generic FWS curriculum to the local needs is made possible by organizing FWS planning meetings before the conduct of each FWS session. In these planning meetings, farmer facilitators:
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Identify and discuss content appropriate to local needs;
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Develop session guides - identify methods and develop appropriate models, and posters;
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Brainstorm ways of making farmer training sessions an exercise in discovery-learning;
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Identify locations where farmers could observe geological formations and structures; and
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Identify special topics relevant to the local needs.
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Get further information on FWS at http://www.apfamgs.org/upload/pdf/RE7907_40108.pdf
Abhishek Mendiratta, Jupiter Knowledge Management and Innovative Concepts Private Limited (JKMIC), New Delhi , in Developing Communication Strategies for the Drinking Water Sector
Recently UNESCO carried out a Water Advocacy Campaign. Such a communication strategy is good but in addition to the rally these children need to be trained/educated to conserve water/make best use of water. These children will further educate and spread the message through word of mouth to family and friends. However, by training and educating these children the impact will be much more long lasting. Please find the details of the event at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-25110901.pdf (PDF; Size: 120KB)
S. Ramesh Sakthivel, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi, in Evidence on the Effectiveness of Handwashing on Child Health
The Department of Drinking Water Supply with the support of UNICEF has developed IEC materials such as posters, pamphlet, teacher’s training module and TV and video spots to promote the practice of hand washing with soap. These can be downloaded at http://ddws.gov.in/handwash/. You may also contact the state CCDUs/UNICEF offices for obtaining these materials in various regional languages.
Ajit Seshadri, The Vigyan Vijay Foundation, New Delhi , in Activities Concerning Household Water Treatment and Storage
Here is a detailed paper giving the details to apprise members most aspects, to gain knowledge on the WWT- systems being conceptualized as DEWATS- systems. It is best achieved if once used water is optimized by usage at the lower end, for irrigating plants, flushing toilets, etc. Please read more at ftp://ftp.solutionexchange.net.in/public/wes/cr/res-24031001.doc(DOC; Size: 2.62MB)
Depinder Kapur, India WASH Forum, New Delhi, in Women’s Role in Urban Watsan
http://www.wateraid.org/documents/delhi_study.pdf. This study has a very useful analysis of the governance and administrative context of Delhi . It is the only study that shows the complexity of Delhi city in terms of the different categories of residential colonies and the different level of service provision for water and sanitation. It also suggests programming options for NGOs that are city wide and not slum level.
J David Foster, ASCI, Hyderabad, in Women’s Role in Urban Watsan
Where this is particularly obvious is when water is provided for the poor. Policy makers determine that household connections are "too expensive" for the poor and that therefore water should be provided "for free" via public stand posts. Unfortunately, the only way in which someone can conclude that water obtained from a public stand post is actually cheaper than water delivered via a household connection is if they put virtually no value on the time of the person carrying the water. The following link provides a ready example of the real cost of "free water" http://www.indiawaterportal.org/post/2198
Biplab Paul, Lokvikas, Ahmedabad, in Participatory Well Recharge Programme – Mazhapolima
We had used financial terminology in the rejuvenation programme. It will be better to calculate the cost of drudgery of women in the village given the quantum of water accessibility in context of drying of the wells, and then campaign with the opportunity cost. The important factor is that it has to be village specific so detailed planning is needed. Secondly, we have worked with schoolchildren to share with their fathers information about the water problem they and their mothers face through the performing arts or print media. It works very well.
Charulatha Banerjee, Terres Des Hommes Foundation, Kolkata, in Booklet on Menstrual Hygiene Management
Terres Des Hommes Foundation Lausanne in partnership with PRAYAS, along with the ANI Education Department has instituted a project, through which all Government schools in Little Andaman will be equipped with toilets or in schools where toilets exist but need repairs, will be repaired. This programme also focuses strongly on improving children's and their family’s knowledge and practice on correct sanitation practices. A holistic approach towards improving children’s health through improving damaged infrastructure and supplementing where necessary and also building capacity of communities to maintain and use them effectively is the guiding principle.
Dipak Roy, WASH Consultant, New Delhi , in Communication Strategy on Menstrual Hygiene Management
Ms Lakshmi Murthy has done some pioneering work in Rajasthan ( Udaipur ) on communication for menstrual hygiene using local material and it is very innovative. Please see the website: www.vikalpdesign.com for detailed references to the work done by Ms Murthy.
There has been one KAP study carried out by New Concept Information Systems on MH among adolescent girls in Koraput district for UNICEF, Orissa office in Sept 2007 (unpublished). Although the sample size was small (55 girls), the findings are indicative of the demand for information and guidance in this area even in remote Koraput:
"The study findings revealed that there is demand among adolescent girls in both the schools and women in non-tribal village for low cost sanitary napkins. In the tribal village as the literacy levels and standard of living were very low, buying and using sanitary napkins was considered a luxury. The study also revealed that in the areas where there was demand for napkins, affordability on regular basis was an issue due to high price."
Moderator’s note: Good morning. We are happy to share an additional response from K A S Mani to this recently-issued consolidated reply. If you have more inputs, please send them along.
Dear members,
I have been associated with the design and implementation of watershed software as part of NGO led initiative in the early 1990’s, The software over the years have been updated and is currently available as a commercial package for implementation by NGO’s, government agencies and ministries.
The software has number of modules including a socio-economic data base module, natural resource module, mapping module, land use module, meteorological data module, engineering design module and evaluation module.vThe software has capability to inter-phase with cadastral map, survey of India topo-sheets, census data base and other database in .xls, .mdb and various other formats. The software has been tested by NIRD, MANAGE and various watershed implementation agencies as well as Karnataka soil conservation department , Bellary.
For further details please get in touch with J.Rajendra Prasad of MTS. prasad_mts@yahoo.co.in
Best Regards,
K. A. S. Mani
Consultant Water Resources
Kerala
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