Abstract

The importance of adequate and quality water supply in promoting human health is well recognized. Poor quality water has a direct impact on the quantity of water available for consumption. Accordingly, the governments at the centre and the state have conceptualized and are implementing several measures to supply adequate amount of drinking water to the citizens, particularly those in rural areas. Karuna Trust (KT) with funding from Arghyam has piloted an intervention in two districts, Chamarajanagar and Chickballapur, to improve water quality surveillance through enhanced awareness about issues relating to water quality and by bridging the gap in information sharing between different levels.

This report by CBPS discusses the results of a baseline survey and a midterm evaluation conducted by them for the project conducted by KT, using an indicator framework developed in consultation with Arghyam and Karuna Trust. The results from the baseline survey show that general awareness on water quality issues such as contamination, causes etc did exist at the Gram Panchayat level. More technical knowledge about chemical and bacteriological contamination however was rather poor in Health and PRED departments. It was also noted that the PRED and Health departments did not shar information about water quality testing. Results from the midterm evaluation displayed a poor overall impact from the activities undertaken by KT, with the interventions found to be too focused on individual activity rather than systemic overhaul.

CBPS. (2014). Management of water quality: a Karuna Trust - Arghyam initiative. Bengaluru: Centre for Budget and Policy Studies.