Government of India has launched reforms in the water supply and sanitation sector and as a part of the reforms initiative, demand responsive, community-centered programmes Swajaldhara and Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) are under implementation. The basic principle of the reforms is of community participation in the planning, implementation, operation and maintenance in the water supply and and sanitation schemes, of its preference and affordability. For the success of the above programmes, the availability of informed, knowledgeable and skilled programme implementers and facilitators is a pre-requisite. This has necessitated the strengthening of the capacities and willingness of the community to take on the responsibility and managing their water and sanitation systems.

The two sectors require institutional strengthening and capacity building of state, district, block and gram Panchayat level institutions and functionaries. The reform process does not end with the physical completion of the schemes. thus involvement of the PRI institutions, social mobilization, capacity development and IEC are core components of the projects.

The programmes are to be implemented in a demand responsive manner, where the community is the forefront of decision making. Under Rural Sanitation, there is a shift form a high subsidy to a low subsidy regime and, considerable effort is being made on information, Education & Communication (IEC) for social mobilization and demand generation. Towards this end, National level IEC strategy has been developed. Similarly, State level IEC strategy and plan with necessary tools are to be developed and disseminated. It is recognized that States are at different levels of development in terms of PRI structure, awareness of the concepts and capacity of all stakeholders. Thus the IEC tools would need to conform to the National strategies, but would be State or region specific.

Strategy

Government of India proposes to select and support one Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) in each State CCDU will identify develop own network resource of state District  and five Regional Resource Centers with a group of States associated with each. To co-ordinate the work of the Regional Resource Centers (RRC) and disseminate the National strategies.

Communication & Capacity Development Unit

In Uttar Pradesh CCDU is located under State Water & Sanitation Mission. It is headed by Project Coordinator with four consultants and two support staff for implementation of IEC & Capacity Development of all Stake holders for the implementation of SWAJALDHARA, TSC and National Rural Drinkinging Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance Programme.

Functions (TSC & SWAJALDHARA, Water Quality)

• To develop State specific information, education and communication strategy and implementation for Water and Sanitation.

• Provided technical guidance and support to the district project implementing agencies through regular review missions.

• Ensure intersectoral coordination in development of IEC material, especially with Health, Education, Forest and Panchayati Raj Department of the State.

• Conceptualise the HRD/IEC annual plan for the state as well as the districts.

• Analytical documentation of success stories and other initiatives taken within the State and dissemination of the same to field functionaries.

• Preparation of manuals and guides relating to financial, technical aspects of WATSAN schemes and O&M in simple easy to use language/vernacular.

• Partnering with NGOs, women groups, reputed institutions for taking up R&D activities, innovative projects etc.

• Developing M/S System for related programme.

• To identify develop network within IEC capacity bulling RRC/NRC.