Courses, Toolkits, Manuals, Guides and Handbooks

Ashwas process handbook - A planning and execution guide for participatory surveys of household water and sanitation
This handbook published by Arghyam is a compilation of the insights and knowledge gained from conducting the ASHWAS (A Survey of Household Water and Sanitation) study, which included a participatory survey undertaken by Arghyam to ascertain the status of household water and sanitation in rural Karnataka, from a citizen's perspective. Posted on 25 Jun, 2011 04:31 PM

The handbook was created as a result of several organisations expressing their interest in conducting an exercise similar to ASHWAS. The purpose of this handbook is thus to serve as a template for those wishing to carry out a similar effort in the other parts of the country.

Taking steps toward marine and coastal ecosystem based management: An introductory guide by UNEP
This guide by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) seeks to assist countries and communities to take steps towards making marine and coastal ecosystem-based management operational, from strategic planning to on-site implementation. Posted on 25 Jun, 2011 09:28 AM

 An important aim of this guide is to facilitate the implementation of UNEP’s overarching Ecosystem Management Programme and new Marine and Coastal Strategy in countries and regions in line with its Medium Term Strategy 2010-13.

Assessment study of impact and sustainability of Nirmal Gram Puraskar – A report by CMS Environment
This report by CMS Environment presents an assessment study of impact and sustainability of Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP). Posted on 24 Jun, 2011 11:02 PM

NGP was initiated in Oct 2003 to encourage Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), block and districts to take up sanitation promotion, a post achievement, award-cum-fiscal incentive scheme. The eligibility criteria for the PRIs to receive NGP include: Gram Panchayats, Blocks and Districts, which achieve 100 per cent sanitation coverage in terms of: (1) 100 per cent sanitation coverage of individual households (2) 100 per cent school and anganwadis sanitation coverage (3) Free from open defecation and (4) Clean environment maintenance (liquid and solid waste management).

Scaling up rural sanitation: Findings from the impact evaluation baseline survey in Madhya Pradesh
This technical report edited by the by Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP) and published by the World Bank (WB) summarizes the findings of the baseline survey conducted in Madhya Pradesh (MP), India, which was a part of an Impact Evaluation (IE) study that aimed at assessing the impact of the Global Scaling up Rural Sanitation Project launched by the Water and Sanitation Programme, in India. Posted on 24 Jun, 2011 03:43 PM

This report is a part of a series of papers that analysed the baseline data from all countries where the program was implemented.

Alternate management approaches for village water supply systems - Case studies from Maharashtra - A field note by WSP
This field note by the Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP) documents some of the alternate approaches for Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of rural water supply that are already in practice in various parts of Maharashtra, Posted on 23 Jun, 2011 05:25 PM

It documents the approaches in a context where the state government agencies responsible for construction and management of rural water supply systems have been found to be facing limitations in O&M arrangements.

The traditional approach to provision of rural water supply in India has been supply driven, with emphasis on norms and targets and on construction and creation of assets, but with very little concern for sustainable arrangements for better management and maintenance of the facilities built. The viewpoint that users are ‘beneficiaries’ rather than empowered stakeholders among the service providers has led to alienation of the users.

Survey of recent sanitation achievement in Himachal Pradesh - A study by Institute of Development Studies
A 'Sanitation revolution' is attributed to Himachal Pradesh. The Institute of Development studies examines this phenomenon Posted on 23 Jun, 2011 10:35 AM

Himachal PradeshThis report of a study commissioned by the Institute of Development Studies on the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) site presents the findings of the survey that was conducted in Himachal Pradesh to assess the progress made by the state in rural sanitation, in the context of the sanitation revolution, which is said to have occurred in the state of Himachal Pradesh in the last few years. 

Himachal Pradesh has a population of about 6.9 million and is over 90% rural. It has a relatively good record on human development indicators and access to public services. However, it showed a dismal awareness on the sanitation front till a few years ago.For example, in 2004, household toilet coverage in rural areas of Himachal Pradesh was estimated at about 28%. In early 2005, the Government of Himachal Pradesh adopted a new strategy to secure better rural sanitation results, which included:

Biodiversity, ecology and socioeconomic aspects of the Gundia river basin in the context of the proposed mega hydroelectric power project - A CES technical report
Save the Gundia river from dams: This CES report tells you how and why Posted on 21 Jun, 2011 11:23 PM

This report by the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore highlights and argues for the the case of saving the Gundia river, one of the most important tributaries of the river Kumaradhara in Hassan district in Karnataka, which is known for its very rich vegetation and biological wealth. This is in the context of the proposal put forward by the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited to implement the Hydroelectric project (GHEP) on the river. 

Water governance guidelines for practitioners - Sahjeevan's experiences in decentralised drinking water management
Sahjeevan has formulated water governance guidelines for practitioners, which has been presented in this report. Posted on 20 Jun, 2011 08:50 PM

CoverThis report is based on the experience of women’s collectives promoted by Sahjeevan and of several member organizations of Abhiyan on local water governance, in particular on the demonstrated models of decentralized drinking water that they have taken up in several villages.

Water has been the central theme for development in Kutch. In the last two decades, a scaling up process of decentralized drinking water, popularly known as Pani Thiye Panjo, has been initiated in around hundred villages of Abdasa taluka in Kutch district of Gujarat focusing on development of local drinking water sources, their strengthening and building capacities of communities for maintenance and management of the systems to develop drinking water security at the village level.

The concept of Pani Thiye Panjo, has been well accepted as Abdasa model, which besides providing drinking water security, initiated policy dialogues at the local level on issues such as protection of groundwater, pricing mechanism of water (local vis-à-vis external sources), role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in water governance, role of local youth in developing their technical capacities and development of social capital in management of drinking water systems.

Long range forecasting of the South West Monsoon for 2011 - A report from India Meteorological Department
This report by India Meteorological Department deals with long range forecasting of the South West (SW) Monsoon for 2011. Posted on 19 Jun, 2011 10:04 PM

 In India, SW monsoon is the principal rainy season and it receives about 80 per cent of its total annual rainfall during the summer monsoon season, from June to September.

Multi-district assessment of water safety (M-DAWS) in Gujarat - A study by Water and Sanitation Management Organisation
This report survey assesses the condition of drinking water quality in the Gujarat in the context of severe water shortages. Posted on 15 Jun, 2011 12:08 PM

WASMOThis report by the Water and Sanitation Management Organisation (WASMO) is based on the analysis of Multi-District Assessment of Water Safety (M-DAWS) carried out in 8 districts of Gujarat (Vadodara,Valsad, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Kachchh, Surat, Ahmedabad and Dangs) , where ensuring adequate and safe drinking water to the people has been looked upon as a huge challenge needing urgent action during years 2007 and 2008 .

The Multi-District Assessment of Water Safety (M-DAWS) programme was undertaken by Water and Sanitation Management Organisation (WASMO) with financial and technical support from UNICEF.

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