Report of the evaluation team set up by the Ministry of Works and Housing Government of India on WHO/UNICEF assisted rural water supply programme

Because of the slow progress of the WHO/UNICEF assisted rural water supply programme, the Government of India appointed an evaluation team to make a comprehensive appraisal of the operation aspects and the progress of the programme for supplying drinking water to rural areas during the period 1969-1975. A team consisting of nine members was divided into sub-teams of three each who visited various states and collected information on the basis of agreed guidelines. In analyzing the findings of the evaluation, this report looks at the totality of the situation (larger geographical as well as programme areas) in the country and the factors which have a bearing on accomplishments. There is an effort also to look at the problems, the removal of which would expedite the implementation of the programme. The report covers background information, eg. problem villages; historical background such as the impact of droughts; the programme itself, eg. targets and priorities; accomplishments, eg. number of wells drilled or handpumps installed; policy of each state regarding rural water supply; organization within each state; allocation of resources by the state to the programme; equipment such as the number of pumps , power pumps and other equipment, and their maintenance and performance assessment; number of support vehicles; arrangements for repairs and spare parts; information systems; personnel training programmes; and people?s participation. It was hoped that this approach would provide data for a comparative analysis and, although this aim was not totally fulfilled, the data was similar enough to take a comparative approach to the evaluation. Despite insufficient data to draw definite conclusions, a number of recommendations are suggested in the report including the need to involve the Health and Community Development Departments in motivating and educating the people for their participation at all stages of the programme, something lacking at the time of the report.