November 4, 2025

Margao witnessed a vibrant change as the Directorate of Panchayats fired up a new order: every village panchayat in Goa must appoint two women members to form Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSC). This fresh directive came during a lively third monthly meeting of the District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) for South Goa, chaired by additional collector-II Ramesh Gaonkar. The mission? To keep a sharp eye on the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) right at the grassroots level. Once these VWSCs are ready, women members won’t just sit back—they'll receive special training in water testing. Officials say this step is "aimed at enhancing community participation and ensuring effective monitoring of water quality standards." That means cleaner water and healthier villages! The meeting was a great gathering of forces, with attendance from health, forest, IT, panchayat services, water resources, and agriculture departments. The Directorate showed the latest on pending work at panchayat levels, charging every department with sticking strictly to guidelines and delivering on time. But wait, there's more bubbling under the surface! The state government rolled out a sizzling plan for water supply enhancement in Quepem’s villages, those not covered by the Selaulim project. Big-ticket works include a Rs 32-lakh reservoir at Zamlimoddi, Rs 52-lakh pipeline extensions stretching through Barcem-Quedem, and a Rs 50-lakh pipeline connecting Naqueri-Betul. Villages in the Khola area are next in line for this water makeover. With empowered women leading water watchdogs and fresh projects flowing, Goa is set to make waves in rural water and sanitation. Who knew clean water could get this exciting?

Read More at Timesofindia →

Tags: Village Water And Sanitation Committees, Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, South Goa, Women empowerment, Water Supply Enhancement,