Sustainability through training

This paper summarises the work done over the last six years to improve the supply of water in rural areas of India through specially designed training for engineers and scientists working in the rural water sector. The programme came into being as a result of the vision of senior staff of the Drinking Water Mission in the Department of Rural Development of the Ministry of Agriculture in 1990. Since then the support of Mission staff has continued as the responsibility for the activities of the Mission passed first to the Ministry of Rural Development and recently to the Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment. Financial support was provided for the external input costs to this programme by the Overseas Development Administration of the United Kingdom Government and internal costs were borne by the Mission.