India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti, through the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), hosted the International WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Conference during the 8th India Water Week. The event took place from September 17th to 19th, 2024, in New Delhi. This three-day conference was focused on the theme, “Sustaining Rural Water Supply”, and brought together experts, government officials, and innovators to discuss solutions to global WASH challenges, with a particular focus on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) – clean water and sanitation for all.
Important Leaders at the Conference
The conference had many important leaders and speakers. Some of them were Smt. Vini Mahajan, Secretary of DDWS; Shri Ashok K. K. Meena, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), DDWS; and Shri Chandra Bhushan Kumar, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM). Other key officials and experts from different states and organizations also attended the event.
Many Sessions and Presentations
The International WASH Conference 2024 had more than 40 sessions, including both offline and online events. There were 143 paper presentations held in person and 43 presented online. The event also featured 5 important panel discussions. The topics discussed ranged from water quality and greywater management to climate change adaptation and community involvement in water projects.
Day 1: Water Disinfection and Community Engagement
On the first day, the focus was on new water disinfection technologies and the role of communities in maintaining water supply systems. One of the key events of the day was the National Safe Water Dialogue, which discussed how the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has successfully implemented water disinfection technology. It also explored how engaging with local communities has helped improve the effectiveness of water supply programs.
Day 2: Technology and Water Management
The second day of the conference highlighted how technology is changing water management. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and IoT (Internet of Things) systems are playing a big role in monitoring and managing water quality. Shri Ashok K. K. Meena gave a keynote speech on how these technologies are improving service delivery and water quality checks. Other sessions were held in SPM NIWAS, Kolkata, where the focus was on digital innovations that help improve water management across India.
Day 3: Achieving Universal Access to Rural Drinking Water
On the final day, the main topic was “Achieving Universal Access to Rural Drinking Water”. This session was led by Smt. D. Thara, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, along with Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar from the NJJM. They talked about the challenges in providing clean drinking water to rural areas and discussed how communities can help ensure that water supply systems work well for the long term.
Behaviour Change and Climate Adaptation
Another important discussion on the third day was about Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The session stressed the importance of making people trust tap water as a safe drinking water source. The experts also talked about how we can adapt to climate change and manage disasters better to protect communities and water systems.
Swachh Sujal Gaon Exhibition
A special Swachh Sujal Gaon exhibition was held during the conference. This exhibition was a model village that showed how India is working to improve water and sanitation in rural areas. States and Union Territories (UTs) showcased their best ideas and practices for managing water and sanitation, sharing useful insights that others could learn from.
Key Takeaways and Looking Ahead
The International WASH Conference 2024 ended with several important lessons and ideas. It showed India’s leadership in managing rural water supply through programs like the Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission. The event also highlighted the importance of global partnerships, community-led solutions, and technology-driven innovations for tackling future water challenges. India’s commitment to sustainable water management was clearly demonstrated, and it set the stage for future collaboration with other countries to improve water systems worldwide.
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