Community participation in water and sanitation services role of Panchayati Raj in India

It has now been a great challenge to the countries like India to provide each of her citizens, urban and rural, with adequate safe water for drinking, cooking and other domestic needs on a sustainable basis. This basic requirement should meet minimum water quality standards and be readily and conveniently accessible at all times and in all situations. Sanitation has also a direct relationship with health development of rural people at large. But sanitation is never perceived as a priority especially in rural India where open space is readily available until today in spite of the growth of population and urbanization. Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in India after the enactment of 73rd constitution Amendment Act have been taking active role in providing the two basic needs of rural people. Today, Gram (village) Panchayats(lowest tier of rural local government) execute water and sanitation projects by ensuring community participation through Village Water and Sanitation Committees(VWSC).