Manual for the utilization of the 15th Finance Commission tied grant to Rural Local Bodies/PRIs for water and sanitation (2021-22 to 2025-26). Country/Territory India Document type Miscellaneous Date 2021 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Water Keyword Community management Data collection/reporting Education Effluent waste water/discharge Gender Governance Groundwater Inspection Local government Monitoring Potable water Rainwater Recycling/reuse Risk assessment/management Sewerage Subsidy/incentive Surface water Sustainable development Waste disposal Water charges Water quality standards Freshwater resources management Water supply Water users' associations Waterworks Well sinking/boreholes Wetlands Basin/catchment/watershed Pollution control Freshwater pollution Inland waters Geographical area Asia, Asia and the Pacific, Indian Ocean, South Asian Seas, Southern Asia Abstract This manual is a follow-up to the Operational Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India in July, 2021 and provides guidance for utilisation of the 15th Finance Commission tied grants for water & sanitation. The local body(gram panchayat) is expected to manage, operate and maintain in-village water supply and sanitation services on a regular and long-term basis with focus on service delivery, rather than mere infrastructure creation. The manual explains the procedure for the release and distribution of the tied grant to all entities. The Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India (DDWS) would act as a nodal Ministry for determining the eligibility of the rural local bodies for the tied grants and all states must assign their respective nodal agencies for coordination with DDWS. The tied grants can be used for a.) supply of drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling; and b.) sanitation, maintenance of Open Defecation Free status, and management and treatment of household waste including plastic waste, human excreta, grey water and faecal sludge. The manual also explains the requirement of maintenance of accounts by local bodies, the auditing of these account and monitoring and evaluation of implementation of the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission tied-grant for water and sanitation. Full text English Website jalshakti-ddws.gov.in