New Delhi, March 13 The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) hosted the AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav here on Friday to highlight the role of women-led initiatives in strengthening urban water services under AMRUT 2.0.
The initiative brought together over 1,000 women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and 300 officials from 30 states and Union Territories (UTs).
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal, who chaired the national gathering at Bharat Mandapam, said the government plans to expand the AMRUT Mitra model from the existing 1,900 cities to 5,000 cities, aiming to deepen women's participation in urban water and sanitation management while creating greater livelihood opportunities.
According to a statement, the minister said that water management should be viewed not merely as a service delivery mechanism, but as 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 ministry said that over 45,000 SHG members are currently engaged across 1,910 cities in 34 states and UTs, supporting urban local bodies in multiple activities.
Women representatives from Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka shared their experiences, highlighting how their involvement in urban water management has improved livelihoods and strengthened community participation.