New Delhi/ Leh, Mar 14: Women representatives from Ladakh joined more than a thousand participants from across the country at the AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in New Delhi, highlighting the growing role of women Self-Help Groups in urban water management under the AMRUT 2.0 programme.
The national event, chaired by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal at Bharat Mandapam, brought together over 1,000 women representatives and about 300 officials from 30 States and Union Territories.
From the Union Territory of Ladakh, eight members of Self-Help Groups associated with the Municipal Committee Leh participated in the programme, representing community-based efforts in urban water governance.
Officials said the delegation included Phunchok Angmo of Lamstan Group Gonpa, Tsering Dolker of Sia Group Skara, Hadisa Bano of Seven Star Skara, Kunzang Dolma of Nangstal Group Yurtung, Lila Bano of Shajing Group, Tsultim Angmo of Tsejol Tsogspa Chubi Katpa, Shamima Usman of Thundel Tsogspa Skampari and Hamida Khatoon of Chamshen Tsogspa Skampari.
The group was accompanied by Chamba Dolker, Demolition Guard of Municipal Committee Leh, who was deputed to coordinate the participation and submit a report on the event.
During the gathering, women representatives from several states shared their experiences of working as AMRUT Mitras. Their accounts focused on activities such as water quality testing, billing and collection, community mobilisation, faecal sludge management operations and maintenance of water infrastructure.
Participants noted that these responsibilities have not only strengthened service delivery in cities but also opened livelihood opportunities for women involved in the initiative.
Addressing the event, Union Minister Manohar Lal said urban water management in India is increasingly shaped by public participation, with women playing a central role in ensuring efficient systems at the community level.
He observed that the involvement of Self-Help Groups in water governance has improved communication between citizens and urban local bodies while encouraging greater community ownership of public infrastructure.
The minister also outlined plans to broaden the role of SHG members in emerging areas of urban water management, including monitoring reuse and recycling of treated wastewater, participation in digital water systems, smart metering and data-based monitoring.
He said women groups would also contribute to awareness campaigns aimed at promoting responsible water use and conservation in cities.
Under AMRUT 2.0, the reuse of treated wastewater is expected to gain greater focus as urban centres move towards a circular water economy. AMRUT Mitras, he said, would support this transition by engaging communities, monitoring local recycling systems and strengthening communication initiatives.
Announcing the next phase of the initiative, the Union Minister said the AMRUT Mitra model is proposed to expand from the current 1,900 cities to nearly 5,000 cities across the country.
At present, more than 45,000 Self-Help Group members are engaged across 1,910 cities in 34 States and Union Territories, assisting municipal bodies in various aspects of urban water supply and sanitation services.
Officials said the proposed expansion is expected to create additional livelihood opportunities for women while strengthening community participation in urban water security.
The participation of the Leh delegation at the national forum also provided an opportunity to connect grassroots groups from Ladakh with broader urban water management initiatives being implemented across the country.
