As part of the 8th India Water Week 2024, a special meeting was held in New Delhi to discuss how digital tools can help solve India’s water problems. The session, called ‘Imagining Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Water,’ was part of the International WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Conference. It focused on how technology and partnerships can make water management better and more inclusive.
Bringing Experts Together
The session brought together experts from different fields like government, education, and charities. They talked about how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) could bring new ideas to water management. DPI could help people work together, make water systems more efficient, and change how water is managed across India.
Leadership and Key Points
Shri Ashok Kumar Meena, Officer on Special Duty from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, led the session. He said that “data is the engine for development” and explained how the Jal Jeevan Mission is already using digital tools to improve water systems. He stressed that any future water system should focus on people and their needs.
Shri Nilaya Mitash from the Asian Development Bank moderated the discussion. He talked about how DPI has already transformed other areas and encouraged everyone to work together—government departments, social groups, and researchers—to build a strong digital system for water.
Community Involvement and Data Importance
Ms. Sunita Nadhamuni, Chairperson of Arghyam, shared how important it is to get local communities involved in managing water. She said that the health sector’s digital infrastructure could serve as a model for water management. Shri Anand Mohan, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, highlighted the Ministry’s work over the past 30 years in creating detailed data on groundwater, surface water, and water quality. The data has become more detailed and easier to use, which helps improve water management.
Data and Innovation in Water Management
Dr. Manoj Kumar Tiwari, a professor at IIT Kanpur, emphasized how having good data is essential for creating new ideas and making smart decisions. He pointed out that without accurate data, it’s hard to make the right choices about water use and management.
Key Goals of the Discussion
The main goals of the roundtable discussion were to:
- Understand how technology is currently being used in water management.
- Learn from other sectors that have successfully used DPI and see how those ideas can be applied to water.
- Explore how DPI can lead to better water management and bring together different government departments to work more effectively.
Future Vision for Water Management
The session gave a lot of new ideas on what Digital Public Infrastructure for water could look like in the future. The experts discussed using things like standards, trusted data registries, and open systems (APIs) to make everything work better together. This vision aims to create a system where new ideas can grow, which is essential for solving India’s water crisis and building a future where everyone has access to clean water.
India is facing a serious water crisis, and digital solutions may be a big part of the answer. By bringing experts from different fields together, the roundtable discussion at India Water Week 2024 highlighted the need for strong, people-focused digital tools to manage water better. With good data, strong partnerships, and community involvement, India can create a water-secure future for all.
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