Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
MoHUA Organises ‘AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav’ Celebrating Women-Led Grassroots Leadership in Urban Water Management under AMRUT 2.0
AMRUT Mitra model to expand from the current 1900 cities to 5000 cities, ensuring deeper penetration of women-led governance in urban water and sanitation: Shri Manohar Lal
Posted On: 13 MAR 2026 5:53PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) today hosted the AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav, a national gathering that celebrated the leadership of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs)- AMRUT Mitra’s in strengthening urban water services under AMRUT 2.0.
The event was chaired at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi by Hon’ble Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal with participation of over 1000 women and 300 officials from 30 States and UTs.
AMRUT Mitras from Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka shared their personal journeys, livelihood improvements, and community-level impact stories. Their narratives highlighted how engagement in water quality testing, billing and collection, community mobilization, FSM operations, and O&M of water assets has enabled them to become partners in urban service delivery.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal emphasised that water management is not merely a service delivery mechanism but a movement driven by Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation). He highlighted that women play a central role in India’s water systems, as they are often the primary managers of water at the household and community levels.
The Minister noted that the active involvement of women, particularly through Self Help Groups (SHGs), has led to improved service delivery, greater transparency, and a stronger connection between citizens and urban local bodies. He stated that empowering women in urban water management strengthens community ownership and contributes to more sustainable and efficient water governance.
Shri Manohar Lal further underlined the Government’s commitment to expanding opportunities for SHG women by integrating them into emerging urban water management services. These include activities related to the reuse and recycling of treated wastewater, participation in digital water management systems, smart metering and data-based monitoring, as well as leading city-level Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns to promote water conservation and responsible water use among citizens.
The Hon’ble Minister stressed that treated wastewater reuse will be a major priority under AMRUT 2.0 as cities shift to a circular and sustainable water economy. He highlighted that AMRUT Mitras will support this by raising community awareness, helping monitor local reuse and recycling systems, and driving IEC activities that promote water conservation and circular water practices.
The Minister announced the Ministry’s vision to expand the AMRUT Mitra model from the current 1900 cities to 5000 cities, ensuring deeper penetration of women-led governance in urban water and sanitation.
Today, more than 45,000+ SHG members are actively engaged across 1910 cities in 34 States/UTs. With the proposed expansion, AMRUT will enable greater livelihood opportunities and stronger community participation in water security.
Key Highlights of AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav
- Photo Exhibition on state-led SHG innovations
- Panel Discussion on scaling women-led resilience in water & sanitation
- Testimonial Sessions featuring AMRUT Mitras across states
- Launch of the AMRUT Mitra Best Practices Compendium by the Hon’ble Minister
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