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Reforms in the rural drinking water
sector were adopted in 1999 through Sector
Reform Project (SRP) on pilot basis and have been
scaled up throughout the country in the form of Swajaldhara
launched on 25th December 2002. The programme is a
paradigm shift from supply driven to demand driven,
centralized to decentralized implementation and Government's
role from service provider to facilitator. The fundamental
reform principles in Swajaldhara are adhered to by
the State Governments and the Implementing Agencies
in terms of adoption of a demand-responsive approach
with community participation. It is based on empowerment
of villagers to ensure their full participation in
the project through a decision making role in the
choice of the drinking water scheme, planning, design,
implementation ,
control of finances, management arrangements including
full ownership of drinking water assets. The community
has to share partial capital cost either in cash or
kind or both, 100% responsibility of operation and
maintenance (O&M). An integrated service delivery
mechanism is also promoted which includes taking up
conservation measures through rainwater harvesting
and ground water recharge systems for sustained drinking
water supply.
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