National WASH Conclave 2022

The National WASH Conclave 2022 with the theme – “WASH Forward: Advancing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Panchayats” was aimed at bringing Government and all sector players on a platform to deliberate, reflect, share and learn from experiences on effective delivery of WASH services by Panchayats including ways to improve resilience to future pandemics and major disruptions, including climate change. This conclave was organized by NIRDPR in collaboration with MoJS, MoPR, UNICEF, WaterAid and other development partners and organizations from 23 to 25 February 2022 through a virtual platform.

Sustainable Development Goal 6 is a global commitment to ensure safe drinking water and sanitation for all. Since the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission-II and Jal Jeevan Mission, there has been steady progress in achieving ODF plus villages and providing Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) respectively.

However, there is a need for a consistent drive for change management, improved capacities of various stakeholder groups, convergence at all levels and a robust monitoring system to achieve objectives of these flagship programs. There is a greater need for collaboration among government, development partners, civil society and the private sector to build capacities and empower Panchayats to plan, implement and manage WASH facilities and services.