COMMUNITIZATION

Communitization Programme for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation System started from 2005-2006 under the Communitization of Public Institutions and Services Act, 2002 (Act No. 2 of 2002) of Government of Nagaland through funding from 12th Finance Commission. This policy is also in line with the Sector Reforms Programme of the Ministry of Drinking Water  & Sanitation, Govt. of India. The PHED therefore has adopted the Communitization policy by way of handing over the completed Rural Water and Sanitation schemes to the Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) Committees.

A WATSAN Committee is the beneficiaries ‘legal agency’. The WATSAN Committees are formed through the Village Councils as per the guidelines and norms laid down under the Government Notification No. PHE/WORKS/REFORMS/7/2003, dated 22nd October 2003.

A WATSAN Committee is formally recognized and empowered, by way of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the PHED, to participate in planning, design, implementation  and subsequent take-over, on completion,  of the scheme for operation and maintenance (O&M) of the scheme. A total of 1140 habitations have so far been brought under the ambit of Communitization.