National WASH Conclave 2022: Advancing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Panchayats (Conclave Report)

Access to safe drinking water is critical to survival, and its deprivation could affect the health, food security, and
livelihoods of human beings. India achieved 93% coverage of access to improved water supply in rural areas in
2015 towards fulfilling its commitment under the Millennium Development Goals.

However, with reference to safely managed drinking water (improved water supply located on-premises, available when needed and free of contamination) as per the Sustainable Development Goal, India still has major targets to achieve, and is geared up to accomplish the same by the end of 2024. With the shift from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) less than half of the total rural households in the country have access to safely managed drinking water (improved water supply located on-premises, available when needed and free of contamination). 

The three-day virtual National Conclave on Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) was organised by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad, in association with the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, UNICEF, WaterAid India and other development partners.

The conclave focused on ‘advancing water, sanitation and hygiene at panchayats’.