Safe Water Network, an internationally renowned NGO, hosted a virtual roundtable to share its insights on how water ATMs can provide affordable, safe water while also serving as ‘Water Knowledge Resource Centres’ to empower women. Till now, the NGO has established around 350 safe water stations in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh that provide safe water to more than 1.3 million beneficiaries and 1000 livelihoods.
The informative session highlighted how Water Knowledge Resource Centres (WKRCs) under Project SEWAH (Sustainable Enterprises for Water & Health) of USAID and Safe Water Network played a critical role in encouraging economic empowerment of local women at the grassroots level. These centres have evolved into an educational tool that promotes inclusive and equitable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practises that benefit the community and improve public health, particularly for women and girl children. The WKRCs also connect and educate the local community about various government initiatives in the water sector and policies, including water conservation, non-revenue water reduction, rainwater harvesting, and national campaigns such as Clean India, Pey Jal Survekshan, and others.
The list of the members in the panel discussions included Ms D. Thara, (IAS), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; Ms Karen Klimowski, Deputy Mission Director, USAID, India; Dr Parag Agarwal, Founder & CEO, JanaJal; Mr Minhaj Chowdhury, CEO & Co-founder, Drinkwell Systems; Madhu Krishnamoorthy, Assistant Vice President, Business Development, WaterHealth India; Ms Arti Verma, CSR Business Lead, Waterlife India; Mr Abhijeet Gaan, Director, and CEO, Rite Water Solutions and Ms Poonam Sewak, Vice President, Programs & Partnerships, Safe Water Network India. Safe Water Network has expanded the initiative throughout 11 states and 24 cities in India, in collaboration with SEWAH alliance partners.
Ms D. Thara, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, MoHUA, said, “It is profusely gratifying to see how women at the grassroots level are increasingly becoming aware of economic empowerment and the importance of consuming safe water. The easy access to safe water is helping several women pursue a variety of micro-enterprises to earn their daily wages. The national program AMRUT 2.0 encourages women to participate actively in becoming water entrepreneurs.”
Speaking about their monthly wage, Ms Poonam Sewak, the Vice President of Program & Partnerships, Safe Water Network India, said, “At Safe Water Network India, women empowerment is at the heart of every conversation and community project that we undertake. Along with the USAID supported-SEWAH program, we have been training women as water ATM plant operators and community mobilizers. These women, 548 as Water ATM operators and 152 Water ATM women entrepreneurs, now manage their water stores and disseminate WASH education to the local community. They earn about INR 3,200 per month from the water sale revenue. These Water ATMs have become pivots around which women are setting up even small microenterprises like street food and Chai stalls to help people earn their daily wage.”