Uttar Pradesh government on Friday (May 29, 2026) said in an attempt to effectively prevent water-borne diseases in rural areas and to maintain a robust system for quality assurance and monitoring, it has prioritised water quality testing through community-driven approach.

Under the initiative, which pushes for community-level participation, women have been trained to test water quality using Field Testing Kits (FTKs) for early & effective detection of water contamination and strengthen local community ownership of rural water quality monitoring.

“Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a robust system for quality assurance and monitoring has been implemented to ensure safe drinking water in rural areas,” Anurag Srivastava, Additional Chief Secretary of the Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply Department, told The Hindu, in Lucknow.

“To promote community-level participation, women have been trained to test water quality using Field Testing Kits (FTKs) for early & effective detection of water contamination and strengthen local ownership of rural water quality monitoring. Under this, the Field Testing Kit (FTK) campaign under the Jal Jeevan Mission has evolved into a significant platform for women’s empowerment and self-sufficiency. By linking specialised groups of women across over 97,000 villages in the state to this initiative, the government is not only guaranteeing a clean and quality supply of drinking water in rural areas but is also enhancing the technical skills of women,” Mr. Srivastava said.

Mr. Srivastava, a 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, added that the honorarium earned for testing water purity in villages has also created new opportunities for additional income and self-employment for rural women.

“As part of this mission, groups of five women each have been equipped with Field Testing Kits in nearly all Gram Panchayats and revenue villages throughout the state. Currently, trained women are actively engaged in water quality testing. These women routinely test water samples from drinking water sources and household taps in their respective regions. The ongoing nature of this quality testing initiative is evident from the fact that around 63,700 water quality samples have been tested so far in the current financial year. At the village level, these women are detecting harmful chemicals and bacteria in pipelines, tube wells, and other drinking water sources using FTKs,” told Mr. Srivastava to The Hindu.

Raj Shekhar, Managing Director of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural) said these trained women, part of the department’s community-driven initiative promptly notifies the department to prevent various waterborne diseases caused by contaminated water without delay.

“In cases of suspected or contaminated water sources, these women promptly notify the department to prevent various waterborne diseases caused by contaminated water without delay. Previously, individuals had to endure long waits for water testing; however, with the introduction of Field Testing Kits and a community drive campaign, immediate action can now be taken as soon as contaminated water sources are identified. Earlier, people had to wait for a long time for water testing, but now, through Field Testing Kits, it has become possible to take immediate action as soon as contaminated water sources are identified. This programme is not only ensuring the purity of water, but is also becoming a means of economic empowerment for rural women,” told Mr. Shekhar, to The Hindu.

Mr. Shekhar, a 2004 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, added that the women associated with Field Testing work are being paid honorarium according to the prescribed rates for the testing work carried out by them.

“They are being paid ₹20 per test, with a maximum payment of ₹400 for up to 20 tests. This arrangement has become an excellent medium for women living in rural areas to earn additional income and connect with self-employment. We provide technical training to women under the ‘Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Programme’ of the Jal Jeevan Mission like proper operation of these Field Testing Kit (FTK), safe collection of water samples from various drinking water sources, detailed testing of parameters present in water, recording the reporting prepared after testing in the online application and obtaining other essential information related to safe drinking water standards and cleanliness,” added Mr. Shekhar.