Minister’s appeal to promote community-based in-village Water Quality Surveillance: A message signed by Hon’ble Minister (Water Supply) was sent to each Gram Panchayat and Pani Samiti of Gujarat, appealing them to launch the water quality programme in their villages by forming village water quality teams and testing their drinking water sources for ensuring good health for their villages. A feedback letter was enclosed in this appeal. Such feedback letters have been received back from around 1500 villages across the State till date. Water quality teams have already been formed in these 1500 villages, who have asked for further assistance from WASMO to test their drinking water sources.

Since these villagers have taken an initiative towards community-based surveillance, WASMO intends to build capacities of these teams as future course of action, and subsequently provide each of these villages with a field test kit for keeping vigil on all their drinking water sources.