TWAD Board – CCDU (Community Capacity Development Unit)

Every year, the Tamilnadu Water and Drainage Board (TWAD Board) conducts awareness campaigns on Water and Sanitation and training to Panchayat staff, elected representatives, teachers, field grassroot level water supply workers, SHG members and volunteers through voluntary organisations. COODU, which has been conducting awareness campaigns and training and also distributing Water Quality Testing Kits to the trainees since the year 2006, has been entrusted with the aforesaid tasks in nine districts. After ensuring that the Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) committees are alive and functioning at Gram Panchayat and Block levels, managing water resources properly and assuring judicious use of water and creating sanitary facilities, the organization organized campaigns and training after consulting officials of the districts concerned.

Campaigns

IEC materials in hard and soft copies were prepared. Rallies, with the participation of teachers, students, PTA members, SHG members and volunteers carrying placards and raising slogans on water security, quality and its judicious use, were organized by the organization to raise awareness among the people. Exhibition on Rain Water Harvesting was organized. Students were imbibed with hygienic practices such as washing hands and keeping themselves clean and best sanitary practices.

Training

Training was organized in Panchayat Union meeting halls and Community halls. Audio-visual aids depicting conservation of drinking water sources, maintenance of OHT, pumping systems and sanitation facilities and erection of Rain Water Harvesting Structures and its upkeep were used to disseminate information. Members of WATSAN committees and Panchayat staff were trained on management of water supply schemes. Use of Field Water Testing Kits (FWTK) was demonstrated and hands-on training was given to Panchayat staff, other field workers such as VHN, Health Inspectors and PLF office bearers. Training on best sanitation and hygienic practices was imparted to teachers, PTA members, PLF representatives and students.

Name Of The Training ( In 10 Districts)	Target Groups	No. Of Participants
Planning, Monitoring and Management of Public Water Supply Schemes	Members of VWSCs includes Panchayat President, Vice President, Ward Members, VHN, School Teachers, Health Inspector, Anganwadi workers and Social Workers	5150
Planning, Monitoring and Management of Public Water Supply Schemes (PWSS).	Representatives of Panchayat Raj Institutions (Panchayat President, Vice President, ward members)	4982
Monitoring water quality by using Field Water Testing Kits (FWTK)- Level-1	Grass root level workers (Panchayat Secretary, VHN, Health Inspector, OHT operator, PLF Leaders	5681
Water safety, Health and Hygienic practices.	Women SHG members, PLF, HLF Women Presidents, Secretary, Book Keepers, Animators and SHG members	2780
Monitoring water quality by using Field Water Testing Kits (FWTK)	Representatives of Panchayat Raj Institutions like Panchayat President, Vice President, Ward Members	4782
Safe, protected water, best hygiene practices and monitoring water quality in schools	Teachers, PTA members and students	3245
Effective Operation and Maintenance of pumpsets.	Grassroot level workers such as masons, pump mechanics, OHT operators, social workers and local NGOs	4560
Monitoring water quality by using Field Water Testing Kits (FWTK) - Level-2	Grass root level workers like pump mechanics, OHT operators, social workers and local NGOs	3581

Programme ON SAFE Drinking Water AND SANITATION In Tirupur District
The TWAD Board and sanctioned to undertake awareness programme on safety drinking water in 13 blocks in Tiruppur district to conduct drinking water safety week campaign for testing water quality of drinking water sources in Tiruppur district through
• Rally
• Trainings
• Water quality testing in schools

Name Of The Programmes	No. Of Programmes	Number Of Participants	Places Of Event
Rally	14	1780	District Head Quarters & All Block Head Quarters
Trainings	14	1845	District Head Quarters & All Block Head Quarters
Water Quality testing	4000	Samples -	District Lab & Regional Lab

Interventions

• Training to water sample collectors and analysts
• District Coordinator Committee meeting on water quality and testing
• Block level as well as district level rally on drinking water safety
• Pamphlets , stickers and posters on drinking water safety

Outcomes

• Internalizing the information on water and sanitation as well as hygiene, the trainees disseminated the information among the people.
• The Panchayat staff periodically cleaned the OHTs with bleaching powder, thereby ensuring availability of potable water.
• Teachers, PTA members and students, who were trained, ensured availability of potable water to all students and teaching staff at schools.
• Best hygienic practices such as washing hands before and after consuming food and cleaning hand and legs after using latrines were inculcated to students.
• Trained PLF representatives and women SHG members disseminated information on best menstrual practices to women.
• Conservation of water resources was looked after by members of WATSAN committees, Panchayat staff and volunteers.
• Water testing kits were used by field staff to determine quality of water and if found with low quality, chlorine was applied.
• In open water sources such as ponds, filters were installed to keep out leaves, waste materials, etc., from entering the sources. Bathing was banned. Cattle ponds were constructed to cater to the drinking water needs of cattle.

Output

Details of training conducted and trainees are given below:

SI No	District	No. Of Blocks	No. Of Training	No. Of Trainees
1	Coimbatore	4	12	486
2	Tiruppur	12	24	1015
3	The Nilgiris	4	12	481
4	Salem	10	20	822
5	Thiruvannamalai	12	24	1120
6	Krishnagiri	6	18	784
7	Thanjavur	14	28	1310
8	Nagapattinam	4	12	490
9	Ariyalur	3	9	403
10	Sivagangai	5	5	712
	Total	74	174	7623

Monitoring Water Quality: Maintenance Of Drinking Water Quality Testing Laboratories

Under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), the TWAD Board has entrusted the tasks of maintaining water quality testing laboratories for physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters to COODU. The aim is to ensure availability of sustainable and clean potable water to the people. The laboratories are being maintained by COODU in five places located in four districts as follows:
• Water tested once, in both pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons in a year.
• COODU monitored the following tasks carried out in the laboratories: Testing of 12 chemical parameters
• Preparation of reagents for 12 chemical parameters
• Testing of faecalcoli forms by membrane filter technique and sterilization
• Calibration of instruments
• Record keeping – Sample receipt register, invoice and chemical analysis report
• Calculation based on observations, recording in the master record and Data analysis.
• Maintenance of tools and plants and records
• Maintenance of stock registers for chemical, glassware, miscellaneous, stationary, etc.
• Washing and cleaning of glassware, numbering of samples, etc.

Rain Water Harvesting

COODU initiated pioneering efforts in Rain Water Harvesting in Ramanathapuram and Coimbatore districts. Low-cost Rainwater harvesting structures were designed and propagated to be used in different types of houses – tiled, thatched, concrete, mud, asbestos and tinned-roof houses. COODU conducted several programme in all villages educating the people on need for conserving and method of filtering and using rainwater for domestic uses. In Coimbatore district, COODU conducted a mass rally in Uppilipalayam with SHG members and the public on Importance of Rainwater Harvesting and different structures used for RWH. Similarly, another Human Chain was organised creating awareness and public consciousness on importance of Rainwater Harvesting with the participation of SHG members and school children.

Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission (RGNDWM) (Swajaldhara)

Under the sector reform project, the COODU has conducted 36 training camps and organised two seminars for the Watson committee members comprising SHG members, Panchayat ward members, teachers and elders.

Model Clean Village Campaign (CVC) Under TSC And SGRY

Under the centrally sponsored Total Sanitation Campaign(TSC) and Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojana(SGRY), Model Clean Villages have been established by COODU in the following villages in • Coimbatore district:
• Chinniampalayam, Sulur Block
• Appanaickenpatti, Sultanpettai Block
• Kalangal, Sulur Block
• Arasur, Sulur Block
• Ashokapuram, S.S. Kulam Block

Awareness Generation And IEC Dissemination

Knowledge and awareness among the villagers on sanitation and benefits of clean were disseminated to all houses in the selected villages through door-to-door campaigns, distribution of handbills, brochures, wall writings, posters and banners as well as mobile announcements. Cultural programmes focussing on sanitation and hygiene also formed part of the IEC campaign. Women and SHG groups played a prominent role in encouraging hygiene and need for individual toilets in homes.

Survey

COODU conducted a socio-economic survey to assess the social and economic condition of all the houses in the village as well as to find out their ‘paying capacity’ for constructing toilets. The results of the survey were used to classify households and allow individuals to choose their type of construction from various models available.

Nirmal Gram Purakar Award Verification

Andhra Pradesh

The Government of India has instituted an award to the village Panchayats which have adopted clean and good sanitary practices. The award carries a cash component of Rs. 5.00 lakhs and a citation. In order to verify the parameters fulfilled by Gram Panchayats, the Department of Drinking Water Supply under the Ministry of Rural Development had entrusted the organization with the tasks of field verification, analysis and documentation in the North Gothavari region of Andhra Pradesh. The organization made a thorough inspection of the sanitary facilities available, infrastructural facilities for water supply and the practices adapted by the people in 471 Gram Panchayats of the region. Based on the study, the organization analysed the data collected, documented the same and recorded recommendations / rejections.

Maharashtra

The organization has been tasked with the verification of various parameters in 385 gram panchayats in the state of Maharastra. The project entails house to house survey on drinking water supply and erection of Individual House Hold Latrines (IHHL). Besides household survey the entire area is inspected for cleanliness. Open defecation, if practiced is noted. Public toilets are instructed to ascertain water availability and cleanliness. Safe disposal of waste is monitored. Drainages are inspected for collection of waste water from household and safe disposal of sewerage. The organization has carried out intensive verification of 385 gram panchayats in the districts of Nagpur, Manded, Burbany and Nandurbhar and submitted verification reports to the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

CCDU: Campaign For Judicious Use Of Water

The organization organized interactive sessions for the elected representative of local bodies, youth and SHGs members with Power Point Presentation on Water & Sanitation, who would take the message to the people in their areas. With overexploitation of ground water resources and pollution caused by industrial effluents, the campaign is bound to make people towards better water management and best sanitary practices.

Construction Of Individual Household Latrines (IHHL)

Women masons were trained for construction of IHHL. Grants and subsidies were made available for needy households and 100 percent toilet construction was achieved.

Total Sanitation Campaign: Solid Waste Management

Training on degradable and non-degradable waste and its segregation, production of bio-fertiliser and safe disposal of waste was imparted to Village Panchayat Presidents and Vice Presidents and Councillors in 10 blocks of ariyalur and Perambalur districts. Workshop on Solid Waste Management at the district level, presided over by the two district Collectors, was conducted. All villagers were trained in segregation of wastes. Solid wastes were disposed in separate bins kept at strategic locations. Solis Wastes were segregated into bio-degradable and non-degradable wastes and further sent for processing. Collection was done centrally and this ensured clean roads and streets, no litter and recycling of solid waste.

Establishment of Sanitary Mart For Scavengers:2000-01

COODU facilitated scavengers in Coimbatore Corporation under the scheme of “Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers through Sanitary Mart” to establish a sanitary Mart in Singanallur called Malligai Sanitary Mart. COODU organised 15 days training to scavengers to manage the Mart, for which the Government sanctioned Rs.4.00 lakhs and released it through TAHDCO.

Campaigns In Coimbatore On Water & Sanitation:2003-2004

• COODU organised awareness rally on Rain water harvesting on 15.08.2003 in Upplipalayam, with the participation of 400 SHG members and the public.
• COODU organised human chain to create awareness on Rain Water Harvesting on 28.08.2003 in Ondipudur, with the participation of 220 SHG members and school children.

Civic Amenities: Maintenance Of Public conveniences:

With acute shortage of Sanitary Workers, the Corporation of Coimbatore was unable to properly maintain Public conveniences and therefore approached COODU to facilitate in maintaining eighty one (81) public conveniences in three zones comprising Coimbatore North, West and East. COODU engaged urban SHGs in maintaining them in the year 2007 for a year, using water sprayer, lime and Phenyl to clean daily. As the Public Conveniences were located in areas inhabited by people belonging to lower strata without Individual House Hold Latrines, the service was much appreciated.