SDG 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION

Event Title: Five Days Activity Based Value Added Programme on “Sustainable Management for Water Security and Sanitation Practices” held on 16th – 22nd March 2023.

Event Description: In a pivotal event that unfolded from the 16th to the 22nd of March 2023, the Amity Institute of Environmental Sciences conducted a Five Days Activity Based Value Added Programme. This comprehensive initiative, conducted in collaboration with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), GoI, New Delhi, served as a robust platform for interaction, information exchange, and the sharing of experiences in the domain of "Sustainable Management for Water Security and Sanitation Practices. "Water, an elemental right, and a finite resource, took center stage in the backdrop of escalating water scarcity. With one in four people residing in water-scarce areas, the global water crisis imperilled our ability to produce food, protect livelihoods, and fortify economies. Projections indicated that water demand would outstrip supply by 40% by 2030, heralding a future where effective and collaborative water management would be indispensable. Climate change further intensified this challenge, placing unprecedented stress on global resources. In tandem with long-term environmental planning, immediate sanitation solutions were deemed crucial to curbing the spread of diseases during emergencies. These necessitated inclusive strategies encompassing handwashing facilities, operational and maintenance protocols, operator training, and community education. The call for urgent global and local action echoed, emphasizing the imperative of achieving safe and sustainably managed water, sanitation, and hygiene for all to avert detrimental impacts on the health of millions. India's concerted effort to transform into a well-watered surplus country found expression in the 'Namami Gange Programme,' initiated by the Union Government in 2014. Functioning as an integrated conservation program, it aimed to mitigate the water crisis by focusing on the conservation of the river Ganga. This alignment with national objectives marked the initiation of the Five Days Activity Based Value Added Programme. The extensive week-long event featured a multitude of activities, training sessions, and webinars daily. Its core focus lay in exploring linkages between various aspects of water security and sanitation practices. Additionally, it delved into management strategies, emphasizing nature-based solutions such as wetland restoration, mangrove conservation, and the preservation of floodplains to enhance water availability and quality while mitigating risks from water-related disasters. The event also targeted strategies to elevate knowledge and the perceived importance of sanitation and hygiene practices. The primary objective of this Five Days Activity Based Value Added Programme was to provide a dynamic platform for academicians, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and research scholars to engage in a profound exchange of ideas and practices. The program encompassed a spectrum of approaches, including empirical, theoretical, practical, technical, and applied dimensions, resonating with the overarching theme of water conservation, sanitation, and hygiene. Beyond the academic discourse, the program sought to contribute to broader societal objectives. Mass awareness and capacity building for the nation emerged as crucial facets. The vision extended to developing an 'eco-youth brigade' empowered to propagate public awareness through diverse competitions such as paintings, water ghat cleaning drives, model-making projects, and awareness campaigns on sanitation practices facilitated by NGOs. As the week unfolded, participants engaged in a multifaceted exploration of water security, sanitation practices, and the pressing need for sustainable management. The program facilitated a nuanced understanding of the water crisis, the importance of surface and groundwater, and the interplay between water conservation and good hygienic practices. Technological advancements, tools for evaluating the impact of human activities on water resources, and the implementation of national policies for scientific and sustainable development were also elucidated. The program addressed the multifaceted challenges of maintaining hygienic conditions, waste management, and wastewater treatment and disposal. Access to safe water, a potent instrument in promoting health and reducing poverty, was underscored as a pivotal need. Sessions delved into water quality improvement, wastewater treatment, water reuse, and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all. Themes such as water for health, water for development, and the nexus between water, energy, food, sustainable economic and urban development were explored in-depth. Groundwater contamination risks, environmental laws and governance for controlling pollution, and entrepreneurship, gender, and governance in the face of a groundwater crisis were also deliberated. As the event drew to a close, the resonating outcomes reflected a collective understanding of water security, sanitation practices, and the imperative of sustainable management. The program, with its diverse objectives, succeeded in creating a tapestry of ideas, practices, and aspirations, weaving together a narrative of shared responsibility towards the crucial domains of water conservation and hygiene. The echoes of the Five Days Activity Based Value Added Programme reverberated as a clarion call for sustained efforts in environmental conservation and water security, propelling the participants towards a future marked by informed action and resilience.