The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs organised the AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, bringing together women Self Help Groups involved in strengthening urban water management and sanitation services under AMRUT 2.0.
The event was chaired by Manohar Lal, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, and witnessed participation of more than 1,000 women and 300 officials representing 30 states and union territories.
The gathering celebrated the leadership of women Self Help Groups working as AMRUT Mitras who are actively engaged in improving urban water service delivery across cities. Women participants from Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka shared their personal experiences of community engagement, livelihood generation and local impact.
Their accounts highlighted how women have been contributing to urban water governance through activities such as water quality testing, billing and revenue collection, community mobilisation, faecal sludge management operations and operation and maintenance of water infrastructure.
Addressing the gathering, Manohar Lal said water management should be viewed not merely as a service delivery mechanism but as a people driven movement based on Jan Bhagidari. He emphasised that women play a crucial role in water systems as they are often the primary managers of water resources at the household and community levels.
He said the participation of women through Self Help Groups has helped strengthen service delivery, increase transparency and improve the connection between citizens and urban local bodies. According to him, empowering women in urban water governance enhances community ownership and contributes to more sustainable water management systems.
Manohar Lal also highlighted the government’s commitment to expanding livelihood opportunities for women by integrating Self Help Group members into emerging urban water management services. These include activities related to reuse and recycling of treated wastewater, digital water management systems, smart metering and data driven monitoring.
He said women groups would also lead city level information, education and communication campaigns to promote water conservation and responsible water use among citizens.
The minister emphasised that reuse of treated wastewater will become a major focus under AMRUT 2.0 as cities transition towards a circular and sustainable water economy. AMRUT Mitras are expected to play a key role in community awareness, monitoring reuse systems and supporting water conservation initiatives.
Manohar Lal announced that the government plans to expand the AMRUT Mitra model from the present coverage of about 1,900 cities to nearly 5,000 cities. The expansion aims to deepen women led governance in urban water and sanitation services across the country.
Currently more than 45,000 members of Self Help Groups are engaged as AMRUT Mitras across 1,910 cities in 34 states and union territories. The proposed expansion is expected to generate additional livelihood opportunities while strengthening community participation in urban water security.
The AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav featured several activities highlighting women led innovations in water management.
Key highlights of the event
• Photo exhibition showcasing state led Self Help Group innovations
• Panel discussion on scaling women led resilience in water and sanitation
• Testimonial sessions featuring AMRUT Mitras from different states
• Launch of the AMRUT Mitra Best Practices Compendium by Manohar Lal, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs
The ministry said the initiative reinforces the role of women as key partners in building sustainable urban water systems and advancing participatory governance in cities under the AMRUT mission.
