MoHUA Hosts ‘AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav’ Honouring Women SHGs Driving Urban Water Management under AMRUT 2.0

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) hosted the AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, celebrating the remarkable contribution of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) – known as AMRUT Mitras – in improving urban water services under AMRUT 2.0. Over 1,000 women and 300 officials from 30 States and Union Territories participated in this national-level event.

Women Leading Change in Urban Water Serives

AMRUT Mitras from states like Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka shared their inspiring stories. These women showcased how their involvement in urban water services has improved their livelihoods and benefited their communities.

Their contributions include:

• Water quality testing at local levels
• Billing and collection for urban water supply
• Community mobilization and awareness campaigns
• Operations & Maintenance (O&M) of water assets
• FSM (Faecal Sludge Management) operations

These efforts have made women active partners in urban service delivery, improving transparency and citizen engagement.

Minister’s Address: Water as a People’s Movement

Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal emphasized that water management is more than just service delivery – it is a movement driven by Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation). Key points from his speech:

• Women are central to India’s water systems as primary managers of household and community water
• SHG involvement strengthens urban water governance, community ownership, and sustainable service delivery
• Empowering women improves transparency, efficiency, and citizen connection with local authorities

Expanding Opportunities for SHG Women

The Minister highlighted government initiatives to include women in emerging urban water services, including:

• Reuse and recycling of treated wastewater
• Digital water management systems and smart metering
• Data-driven monitoring for better decision-making
• Leading Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns on water conservation

Treated wastewater reuse is a major focus under AMRUT 2.0, promoting a circular and sustainable water economy. AMRUT Mitras will help communities monitor systems and raise awareness for responsible water use.

Expanding the AMRUT Mitra Model

Currently, 45,000+ SHG members are engaged across 1910 cities in 34 States and UTs. The Ministry plans to expand this model to 5000 cities, ensuring deeper women-led governance in urban water and sanitation. This expansion will:

• Create more livelihood opportunities for SHG women
• Promote strong community participation in water security
• Strengthen women’s leadership in urban governance

Key Highlights of AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav

• Photo Exhibition: Showcasing state-led SHG innovations
• Panel Discussions: Scaling women-led resilience in water & sanitation
• Testimonial Sessions: Sharing AMRUT Mitras’ inspiring journeys
• Launch of AMRUT Mitra Best Practices Compendium by Shri Manohar Lal