AWAS · Kanti Groundwater Governance Charter v11

0 · Why This Charter Exists — Community Problems & How AWAS Solves Them ▼

Ground-level problems identified through household surveys, farmer/labour/women FGDs, and field observations (2024–25). Each row documents the problem, evidence, AWAS response, and timeline — for community awareness sessions, donor communications, and government applications.

Community Problem	Evidence / Scale	How AWAS Addresses It	Charter Section	Timeline
No stop-valves on taps — water runs uncontrolled, massive wastage	Community's #1 cited problem; community survey and field observation: 70% of households were noticed wasting water due to missing or broken tap valves; tail-end households get reduced pressure due to upstream wastage	100% stop-valve compliance target within 12 months of fund launch. Jal Kosh hardware budget (35%) prioritises valve installation on all public taps and shared connections first. BPL households supported from fund. Jal Bandhu tracks monthly. ₹500 repair notice for non-compliance.	Sec 3.2, Sec 5.2	Year 1 (by Dec 2027)
Uneven and unpredictable domestic water supply timing	Household survey: ~60% supply reliability; tail-end clusters get water 1–2 hours after head-end clusters in the same nominal slot; no fixed schedule enforced	Village-wide fixed supply schedule with exact start and end times per cluster. Jal Bandhu logs deviations in Red Book same day. Stress-level adjustments are uniform — same cut for all clusters simultaneously. Grievance path (Sec 3.5) for unfair scheduling with 7-day resolution.	Sec 3.1, Sec 3.5, Sec 3.6	From Day 1 of charter adoption
No formal way to file a water complaint — problems go unresolved	No existing complaints register, no defined escalation path, no response timeline. Community members report informal complaints "go nowhere."	4-tier complaint path: Jal Bandhu → Secretary → President → Panchayat (24 h to 7 days per tier). Anonymous Complaint Box for sensitive issues. Sec 3.5 covers 7 complaint types; Sec 2.3a adds JB-specific grievance route.	Sec 3.5, Sec 2.3a, Sec 7.2	From Day 1 of charter adoption
No public water storage system — any supply interruption leaves households with nothing	8 public borewells feed JJM piped supply directly; no elevated tank or community storage buffer. If a pump fails mid-day, households have no fallback until repair.	Cluster Scarcity Protocol (Sec 3.6): L1 = backup cluster standby; L2 = tanker within 3–4 h; L3/L4 = emergency tanker + PHED notification. Tanker Register (Sec 3.6a) ensures immediate response. Jal Kosh 20% reserve funds tanker supply. Medium-term: AWAS will formally raise community storage need with Gram Panchayat and relevant authorities (JJM, PMKSY) — any infrastructure action depends on government scheme approval.	Sec 3.6, Sec 3.6a, Sec 5.2	Emergency response: Day 1. Storage infrastructure: Year 2–3 subject to co-financing
Rapidly drying borewells — public and private wells failing earlier each year	CGWB 2024–25: extraction stage 156% (over-exploited); water table declining −6 cm/year; 70% of farmers reported increasing their tubewell pipe by 20 ft every year to reach receding water; several public borewells showing reduced yield in summer	Stage-based irrigation reduces Rabi pump hours ~1,440 → 70–80 h/well/year (94% reduction). Kharif monitoring prevents unnecessary monsoon pumping. Private well registration + shared well priority reduces total draw on aquifer. FEFLOW model projects recovery timeline. Stress/Crisis system triggers pre-emptive restrictions.	Sec 4, Sec 4.3a, Sec 6, Sec 3.3	Pumping rules: from Rabi 2025–26. Aquifer recovery: 5–10 years
Farmers pumping unregulated for 6–8+ hours daily — others get nothing	Farmer survey (n=50): 70.3% pump ≥6 h/day during Rabi. Unregulated private borewells run continuously overnight. Shared borewell conflicts common — stronger farmers dominate slots.	Stage-based schedule — pumping only at 5 crop-critical stages. Power windows (A and B) restrict when pumping is possible. Jal Bandhu logs pump hours per farmer per stage. Violations → graded sanction ladder (Sec 3.2, 4.5).	Sec 4.1, Sec 4.2, Sec 4.3, Sec 4.4, Sec 4.5	From Rabi 2025–26 sowing
No community awareness — 42.9% of residents believe groundwater is private property	Behavioural survey (n=50): 42.9% see groundwater as private property; majority unaware of extraction stage or aquifer depletion rate	Jagrukta Dal (Awareness Team) — annual farmer training on crop water budgeting and stage-based irrigation; cluster meetings; IEC materials. Annual behavioural survey tracks attitude change. Village scorecard posted publicly. Jal Bandhu serves as first-point community educator in each cluster.	Sec 2.1, Sec 1 (scorecard), Sec 11	Ongoing from Year 1; tracked annually
No fund for repairs — broken taps and pumps stay broken for weeks	Community reports pump failures and tap breakages left unrepaired for 2–6 weeks due to no local repair fund; PHED response times for public borewells often exceed 2 weeks	Jal Kosh: 35% hardware + 25% O&M = 60% for infrastructure. L2 event: ≤₹5,000 same-day by Secretary. Sub-₹5,000 repairs: Treasurer within 24 h. Leaks reported by JB same day; repaired within 24 h (Sec 3.2).	Sec 5.2, Sec 5.3, Sec 3.2	From fund launch (target Jun 2026)
Unregulated new borewell drilling — worsening the shared aquifer problem	No village-level register of private wells; farmers estimate 200–300 private irrigation borewells in Kanti; new wells drilled every Rabi season without any notification or approval	AWAS Private Well Ledger: all existing wells registered by Dec 2026; new wells require AWAS + Panchayat approval before drilling. Shared well priority: AWAS encourages 2–4 farmers to share a well and cap old private bores. Sanctions for unregistered wells (Sec 4.5, Sec 6). Written shared well agreement template (Sec 6).	Sec 6, Sec 4.5	Registration: by Dec 2026. New well controls: from charter adoption
Canal water not coordinated with borewell pumping — 30% of farmers double-irrigate	~336 farmer households have canal connections; canal releases every ~15 days during irrigation season but farmers also run borewells on the same days, extracting unnecessarily from the aquifer	Canal water priority principle (Sec 4.7): canal water must be used first; borewell pumping permitted only for shortfall. Canal turns logged in Red Book by Jal Bandhu. Secretary tracks estimated borewell hours saved per Rabi season. Annual canal roster from Irrigation Dept posted on AWAS public board.	Sec 4.7	From charter adoption; data collection Year 1, enforcement Year 2
No drought/climate preparedness — crisis hits without warning or plan	Inter-annual rainfall variability in Mahendragarh is high; Kharif 2023 was 38% below normal; no village-level protocol existed for early pre-Rabi crisis response	Climate contingency section (Sec 10.4): three drought triggers linked to state declaration, local water level, and Kharif rainfall failure. Five adaptation measures including elevated monitoring, pre-emptive Rabi reduction, early crisis declaration, crop advisory, and district linkage.	Sec 10.4	Ready from charter adoption

Sources: Household survey n=95 · Farmer survey n=50 · Behavioural survey n=50 · Farmers, Labours and Women FGD (Oct 2025) · PHED Water Quality Report Oct 2023 · CGWB Assessment 2024–25. The problems above are documented, not assumed — each has a citation and a defined AWAS response.

1 · Overview, Values & Village Baseline ▼

📖 What is AWAS?
Amrita Water for a Sustainable Society (AWAS) is Kanti's community water governance committee under Gram Panchayat Kanti, Block Ateli, Mahendragarh, Haryana. It treats groundwater and piped supply as a common-pool resource — owned collectively, managed through clear rules, monitored, and protected through graduated sanctions (Elinor Ostrom's design principles). It is not a government body or company — it is a community institution filling governance gaps that neither government nor individual households could fill alone.

Aligned with SDG 6 targets: 6.1 (safe water), 6.4 (efficiency), 6.5 (integrated management), 6.b (participation).
What AWAS does: enforces domestic supply schedules · manages aquifer stress · regulates irrigation through a stage-based schedule · runs the Jal Kosh · monitors water quality · coordinates with PHED, Atal Bhujal, Gram Panchayat · maintains public records.

💧 What is the Jal Kosh (Water Fund)?
The Jal Kosh ("Water Treasury") is a community savings pool built from ₹20/household/month contributions — not a tax, not a grant. Its purpose: fund valve installation, borewell repair, tanker response, monitoring equipment, and awareness activities that JJM/PHED do not cover.

Governed by: joint-signatory bank account (any 2 of President + Secretary + Treasurer to withdraw) · quarterly audit by Aarthik Paardarsita Dal · annual Gram Sabha review. Full rules in Section 5.
Contributors: All 1,600 households. BPL hardship exemptions via Treasurer. Launch target: ≥60% participation (960 HH) by December 2026.

Village profile: Population 6,346 · 1,600 households · 3,385 acres agricultural land · 1,120 farmer households (70%) · 8 public borewells · 8 ponds · 100% JJM piped connections.

156%

GW Extraction Stage (now)
Target: <100% in 5 yrs

−6 cm/yr

Water Table Trend (now)
Target: stable by Yr 3

29.03 MCM

Annual Extraction (now)
Target: <18.57 MCM (safe yield)

70.3%

Farmers pumping ≥6 h/day (now)
Target: <20% in 3 yrs

42.9%

See GW as private property (now)
Target: <20% in 3 yrs (awareness)

Fund participation (now)
Target: ≥60% by Dec 2026

Sources: CGWB 2024–25 · Farmer survey n=50 · Household survey n=95 · Behavioural survey n=50. Targets linked to AWAS awareness programme (Section 2 Jagrukta Dal) and irrigation schedule (Section 4).
District-level validation: PMKSY District Irrigation Plan 2016–2022 (Mahendragarh, NABCONS / GoI) confirms Ateli block was classified "Critical" (GW stage 90%) as of 2011 CGWB assessment, with all 5 blocks of Mahendragarh classified Over-Exploited. The DIP explicitly states no further groundwater development is feasible in the district. Kanti's 2024–25 figure of 156% reflects continued deterioration since the DIP baseline. Full DIP data cross-reference in Section 4.7.

🗺️ Land Use – Land Cover (Sentinel-2) · Total Agriculture: 3,385 acres

Kanti LULC map – Sentinel-2 classification showing Dense Vegetation, Multiple Cropland, Single Cropland, Built-up, Water bodies, Barren land and Grassland classes within the village boundary

Source: Sentinel-2 satellite imagery analysis · Village boundary (black outline) · Kanti shows high multiple-cropping intensity vs neighbouring villages, most of which have reverted to single-season cropping due to groundwater depletion.

Village Annual Scorecard — 5 Headline Indicators

These 5 indicators are reviewed at every Annual Gram Sabha (January). They translate the charter's goals into numbers that block officials, donors, and community members can track without technical expertise.

#	Indicator	Baseline (2025)	Year 1 Target (2027)	Year 3 Target (2029)	Data Source	SDG Link
1	GW Extraction Stage (%) Annual Net Draft ÷ Annual Net Recharge × 100	156%	<130%	<100%	CGWB annual assessment + FEFLOW model	SDG 6.4.2
2	Domestic supply reliability (%) % of scheduled supply slots actually delivered across all clusters	~60% (uneven)	≥85% uniform	≥95% uniform	Red Book logs (Jal Bandhu)	SDG 6.1
3	Irrigation pumping compliance (%) % of pumping events occurring within permitted stage-based windows	0% (no schedule)	≥50%	≥80%	Red Book logs (Jal Bandhu)	SDG 6.4.1
4	Fund participation (%) % of 1,600 households contributing ₹20/month	0% (not started)	≥60%	≥80%	Blue Book (Treasurer)	SDG 6.b
5	GW as shared resource (%) % of community NOT perceiving GW as private property (behavioural survey)	57.1% (42.9% see as private)	≥70%	≥80%	Annual behavioural survey (Jagrukta Dal)	SDG 6.5.1

Stress declaration threshold → SDG 6.4.2 mapping: Normal = Semi-critical or improving (extraction stage 70–130%); Stress = Critical or worsening (130–156%); Crisis = Over-exploited & declining (>156%). This links the community's on-the-ground observations directly to the CGWB classification framework.

Value	Definition	Application in Kanti
Equity	Fair access; priority to vulnerable groups	No discrimination by caste/gender/wealth. 31% with private borewells must still contribute equally to fund.
Transparency	Open decisions & fund flows	Receipt books, online portal, public board, quarterly audits.
Accountability	Leaders answerable to community	Recall rules, grievance system, graduated sanctions.
Sustainability	Long-term aquifer & institution health	Stage-based pumping schedule; monitoring; fund reserves. Aquifer at 156% overexploitation.
Participation	Inclusive decision making	Women ≥33% in teams; Gram Sabha role.
Efficiency	Best use of water & funds	Time-bound repairs, reduced wastage, adaptive rules.

2 · Hierarchy, Roles & Jal Bandhu Duties ▼

2.1 Governance Levels & Inclusion

Gram Sabha / Gram Panchayat – recognises AWAS, adopts/updates charter, links to Atal Bhujal, JJM, PMKSY.
AWAS Core Committee – President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer. Quorum: minimum 3 of 4 officers must be present for any committee decision to be valid.
Operational Teams – Rakhraav Dal (Maintenance) · Nigrani Dal (Monitoring) · Jagrukta Dal (Awareness) · Aarthik Paardarsita Dal (Finance).
Jal Bandhu – one per cluster; ground-level implementer of all AWAS rules.
Households, SHGs, Farmer Groups – elect leadership, contribute to fund, participate in budgeting.

🤝 Minimum Representation — Core Committee + Transparency Team combined:

Women ≥33% of seats at all times (currently: VP Preeti Jat). Must be sustained every election cycle.
SC/ST ≥1 seat in Core Committee or Transparency Team per term (Kanti SC: 1,983 / 6,346 = 31%).
Landless / tenant farmer ≥1 Jal Bandhu position across the 6 clusters. Their interests are a standing Gram Sabha agenda item.
Any election failing these minimums triggers re-election within 30 days.

2.2 Core Committee

Role	Current Holder	Main Functions	Term
President (अध्यक्ष)	Mahesh Chauhan	Chairs meetings, signs expenditures, represents AWAS externally.	3 yrs; max 2 consecutive; elected by Gram Sabha.
Vice-President (उपाध्यक्ष)	Preeti Jat	Supports President; coordinates scarcity response.	3 yrs; rotation after first cycle.
Secretary (सचिव)	Rakesh Verma	Minutes, registers, logs, water-level register, fund data.	3 yrs; at least one cycle for a woman.
Treasurer (कोषाध्यक्ष)	Satyapal Singh	Cash, bank, receipts, portal, disbursement authorisation.	3 yrs; not first-degree kin of President.

⚖️ Conflict of Interest Rules

Declaration: At term start (and whenever a new conflict arises), all committee members and Jal Bandhus declare in writing to Secretary: land holdings >5 acres under irrigation, or any first-degree family member who may benefit from a fund/roster decision.
Recusal: Any member with a direct personal interest in an agenda item steps aside from that vote; recusal reason recorded in minutes; quorum recalculated on remaining members.
JB + heavy users: A Jal Bandhu in the top 10% of pump-hours in their cluster declares this at term start; their own farm's compliance logs are reviewed by Secretary, not self-reported.
Treasurer rule: Treasurer shall not be first-degree kin of the President.
Annual renewal: All Core Committee members sign a conflict of interest declaration at the January Gram Sabha. Secretary files in AWAS governance register.

2.2a RACI Table — Who Does What for Key Tasks

R = Responsible (does the work) · A = Accountable (final sign-off, bears consequence) · C = Consulted · I = Informed after the fact. This table prevents blame-shifting when problems occur.

Task	President	VP	Secretary	Treasurer	Jal Bandhu	Gram Sabha
Declare aquifer stress / crisis level	A	C	R	I	R (data collection)	I
Approve tanker payment (L2–L3)	A	C	R (paperwork)	R (payment)	I	I
Change cluster pumping roster	A	C	R	I	R (implement)	I
Issue 1st violation warning	I	I	I	—	R + A	—
Issue 2nd offense written note	I	C	R + A	—	R (reports)	—
Approve fund spend <₹5,000	A	—	C	R	I	—
Approve fund spend >₹20,000	R (proposes)	C	R (documents)	R (executes)	—	A
Sign annual financial report	A	C	R (prepares)	R (prepares)	—	I
Present accounts at annual Gram Sabha	R + A	C	R (presents)	R (presents)	I	A (approves)
Remove a Jal Bandhu for cause	A	R (conducts hearing)	R (records)	I	C (peers)	I
Amend this charter	R (proposes)	C	R (drafts)	C	C	A
Collect monthly contributions	I	I	I	A	R	—

2.3 Jal Bandhu — Duties & Accountability

🔵 Who is a Jal Bandhu & What Is Their Authority?
One community-elected water guardian per cluster. First point of contact for complaints, primary data collector, enforcer of pumping schedules. Not paid staff — a 2-year removable trusted representative.

Authority basis: (1) Gram Panchayat Resolution endorsing the charter formally empowers Jal Bandhus to issue verbal warnings and maintain compliance records. Each Jal Bandhu holds a copy and shows it if challenged. (2) RACI table (Sec 2.2a) assigns them R+A on first violation warnings — ignoring a JB warning triggers second-offence escalation to Secretary. Jal Bandhus cannot impose fines, waive contributions, or change rosters — those escalate to the Core Committee.

📋 Jal Bandhu Onboarding — Mandatory within 14 days of appointment:

Document handover: Red Book, cluster roster, Blue Book (current quarter), written note of open complaints/pending violations — from outgoing JB or Secretary.
2-hour briefing by Secretary: domestic band times, irrigation windows, L1–L4 triggers, Red Book format, fund collection, sanction ladder.
Authority document: Copy of Gram Panchayat resolution + laminated single-page duty/contact summary.
Cluster introduction by President or VP within 30 days.
First-month check-in: Secretary reviews first Red Book entries within 30 days.

Applies even in emergency replacements — Secretary reconstructs records from AWAS registers if needed.

Verify domestic supply shifts run on time; log shortages in Red Book.
Log pump start/stop times for all wells in cluster (Red Book).
Ensure no irrigation pump runs during domestic supply bands; issue verbal warning immediately if violated.
If it rains visibly and significantly during the day, note the approximate occurrence in the Red Book. Formal rainfall measurement is not available in the village — rain events are recorded by observation and community knowledge only.

2.3a Grievance Against a Jal Bandhu

Distinct from the general complaint route (Sec 3.5). Use this path if a Jal Bandhu is acting partially, selectively enforcing rules, misusing position, or denying fair access.

Step	Action	By Whom	Timeline
1 — Report	Verbal or written complaint to Vice-President (VP). Complaints against VP go directly to the President. Complaints must include: name of complainant, cluster, date(s) of alleged misconduct, and specific description of the issue.	Affected household / SHG member	Any time
2 — Acknowledgement	VP acknowledges receipt in writing (WhatsApp message is acceptable) and informs the Jal Bandhu that a complaint has been received. No pre-judgement; the Jal Bandhu continues duties while under review.	VP	Within 48 h
3 — Inquiry	VP reviews Red Book records, Blue Book entries, and speaks to at least 2 other cluster members as witnesses. If the complaint involves slot allocation, the cluster roster is checked against any Red Book logs.	VP	Within 7 days
4 — Resolution	VP issues a written finding: (a) complaint not substantiated — matter closed, complainant informed; (b) complaint substantiated — corrective action specified (e.g. roster correction, verbal warning to Jal Bandhu, or referral to the formal removal process in Section 2.3 Accountability tab if misconduct is serious).	VP (reports to President)	Within 14 days of complaint
5 — Appeal	Either the complainant or the Jal Bandhu may appeal the VP's finding to the full Core Committee within 7 days. If still unresolved, escalation to Gram Panchayat Sarpanch.	Any party	Within 7 days of finding

Confidential complaints (where the complainant fears social pressure) may be submitted anonymously to the Complaint Box (maintained by Secretary at AWAS meeting venue). VP shall treat anonymous complaints with appropriate scrutiny and investigate only where a specific verifiable allegation is made.

2.4 Directory

Ages are recorded at time of election to term. Members are responsible for notifying the Secretary of any contact number changes within 7 days.

Mahesh Chauhan

President · Jal Bandhu TB-I, C-I · Bas Kanti / Mandir side · Age: 35

📞 9918727060

Preeti Jat

Vice-President · Awareness (women/SHG) · SHG cluster · Age: 24

—

Satyapal Singh

Treasurer · Age: —

—

Rakesh Verma

Secretary · Age: —

—

Rajesh Singh

Jal Bandhu TB-II, C-II · Yadav ki Dhani · Age: 45

📞 9992140049

Lakshman Singh

Jal Bandhu TB-III, C-III · Golhada ki Dhani · Age: 39

📞 8901780100

Amar Singh

Jal Bandhu TB-III, C-III (deputy) · Golhada ki Dhani / school · Age: 50

📞 8168732445

Pyarelal

Jal Bandhu TB-IV, C-IV · Hospital area · Age: 49

📞 7056110234

Rakhi Chauhan

Awareness / Transparency Team · Near Mandir · Age: 38

📞 8168732602

Abhishek

Jal Bandhu TB-VI, C-V · Near RO / ATM · Age: 45

📞 9813626731

Om Prakash

Jal Bandhu TB-VII, C-VI · RO / 20-tanki side · Age: 40

📞 9813502691

Devi Singh Debu

Sarpanch (Transparency liaison) · Kanti Panchayat · Age: —

—

Ages recorded at time of charter adoption (March 2026). Satyapal Singh, Rakesh Verma, and Devi Singh Debu ages not yet on record — Secretary to confirm and update. All ages maintained in the AWAS governance register.

3 · Domestic Water Rules ▼

🔑 Rule Zero — One Village, One Schedule: All 6 clusters receive supply at the same times and same duration. Stress is a single village-wide condition. Cluster-specific deviations (borewell failure) trigger Section 3.6 — not a permanent schedule change.

3.1 Supply Reference Table (Village-Wide)

Normal (winter/post-monsoon) = 3 h/day (morning + evening). Summer adds a midday slot. Stress = −30 min total. Crisis = −30 min further. Evening slot always ends at or before 16:00 — no overlap with irrigation Window A (starts 16:00).

Season	Stress Level	Morning	Midday	Evening	Total/Day
Winter & Post-Monsoon Nov–Mar · Jul–Oct	🟢 Normal	06:30–08:00	—	15:00–16:30	3 h
	🟡 Stress	06:30–07:45	—	15:00–16:15	2.5 h
	🔴 Crisis	06:30–07:30	—	15:00–16:00	2 h
Summer Apr–Jun	🟢 Normal	06:00–07:00	12:30–13:30	15:30–16:30	3 h
	🟡 Stress	06:00–06:45	12:30–13:15	15:30–16:15	2.25 h
	🔴 Crisis	06:00–06:30	12:30–13:00	15:30–16:00	1.5 h

All evening slots end at 16:30 (Normal), 16:15 (Stress), or 16:00 (Crisis) — before or at the start of irrigation Window A (16:00). No conflict in any scenario. Jal Bandhu confirms supply start/stop and logs deviations in Red Book.

3.2 Core Rules (All Seasons)

⚠️ Cluster Infrastructure Failure: If one cluster's borewell or pipeline is down, this is a Cluster Scarcity event (Section 3.6) — not a permanent schedule change. Once restored, the cluster returns immediately to the standard village-wide schedule.

No irrigation pumping anywhere in Kanti during any domestic supply band. Violations follow the graded ladder below.
All household connections must have a functioning stop-valve. Missing valves: 7-day correction notice; BPL (Below Poverty Line) households supported from fund. Time-bound target: 100% stop-valve compliance on all public taps and shared connections within 12 months of fund launch. Jal Bandhu tracks monthly.
No vehicle washing, courtyard flooding, or construction use during Stress or Crisis level.
Visible leaks on common pipes reported to Jal Bandhu same day; repair within 24 h.

Graded Sanction Ladder — Irrigation Pumping During Domestic Bands

Offence	Action	By Whom	Appeal
1st violation	Immediate verbal warning; Red Book entry same day	Jal Bandhu	Farmer disputes verbally to Jal Bandhu within 24 h
2nd violation (within 30 days)	Written notice from Secretary; ₹200 penalty to fund; violation register entry	Secretary (notified by JB)	Written appeal to VP within 7 days
3rd violation (within 60 days)	₹500 penalty; name read at Gram Sabha; temporary exclusion from AWAS roster for 30 days	Core Committee (2/3 majority)	Appeal to Gram Sabha within 14 days
Chronic repeat (4+)	Referred to Gram Panchayat under Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994	President (writes to Sarpanch)	Panchayat mediation

Tick the conditions that apply in Kanti this month to determine the stress level. These are on-the-ground, observable signs — no instruments needed.

JJM boosting station water level is lower than last month — copied from JJM operator's logbook on 1st of month (most reliable single indicator available) JJM pump run-time is shorter than usual — the JJM operator reports the pump is running for fewer hours per day to prevent running dry, or pump is switching off earlier in its scheduled window It is currently May–June (peak summer) — seasonal stress is normal in this period; combined with SC1 or SC2, this confirms aquifer stress rather than just heat demand increase Any public borewell confirmed dry or near-dry by Jal Bandhu — pump drawing air, yield visibly negligible, confirmed by Jal Bandhu observation (not rumour) Households buying water for irrigation (not drinking) — Note: many households in Kanti already buy drinking water due to high TDS/fluoride in piped supply. This is a water quality issue, not an aquifer-stress indicator. The stress signal here is specifically households buying water for irrigation or reporting that their private borewell has gone dry. JJM boosting station pump shuts off due to no yield — JJM operator confirms pump stopped mid-slot due to no water draw, not a power cut

📉 Groundwater Extraction Stage — The Measurable Outcome Indicator
CGWB defines the Groundwater Extraction Stage (%) = Annual Net Draft ÷ Annual Net Recharge × 100. This is the single validated national indicator for groundwater stress, tracked annually by CGWB and under the Atal Bhujal programme.

<70%
Safe

70–90%
Semi-Critical

90–100%
Critical

>100%
Over-exploited

Kanti current stage: 156% (29.03 MCM extracted ÷ 18.57 MCM recharge). AWAS's stage-based irrigation schedule targets a reduction in annual extraction. The FEFLOW model will project how many years at the validated pumping schedule are needed to cross back below 100% (Critical) and eventually below 70% (Safe). This ratio — not a qualitative checklist — is the measurable target of the AWAS intervention.

Stress level is declared by AWAS Secretary + President on 1st of each month within 48 h of the JJM logbook reading. SC1/SC2/SC3 = Stress. SC4/SC6 = Crisis. SC5 (buying water for irrigation / private well dry) = Crisis.

⚖️ Decision Hierarchy — What Wins When Sources Conflict: JJM logbook reading is the primary trigger; checklist items are secondary confirmatory signals.

Logbook no decline + 2+ checklist items ticked → Declare Stress (community signs may lead the logbook)
Logbook shows decline + no checklist items → Still Stress (community signs may not yet be visible)
Only SC3 (peak summer) ticked, no logbook decline → Stay Normal but note precautionary watch; reassess in 2 weeks
SC4 or SC6 (borewell dry / JJM pump shutting off) → Crisis immediately, regardless of logbook

President's declaration is final if Secretary disagrees; dissenting view recorded in minutes.

3.3 Aquifer Stress Levels — Thresholds & On-the-Ground Definitions

Level	JJM Logbook Threshold	Observable Community Signs	Supply Schedule	Behaviour Rules	Fund Action
🟢 Normal	Water level stable or higher than previous month; pump running full scheduled duration	No borewell failure; Oct–Mar (Rabi / post-monsoon season — aquifer typically recovering)	Full slots (3.1 Normal rows)	Standard use	Routine O&M only
🟡 Stress	Water level declining month-on-month for ≥2 consecutive months; OR pump run-time visibly shorter than previous month	May–June (peak summer) with declining level; JJM operator reporting reduced run time	Reduced (−30 min total; 3.1 Stress rows)	No vehicle washing, courtyard flooding, construction use; leaks fixed within 24 h	Accelerate valve/hardware repairs; pause non-urgent spend
🔴 Crisis	Pump shutting off mid-slot due to no yield (confirmed by JJM operator); OR any public borewell confirmed dry by Jal Bandhu	Farmers reporting private irrigation borewells going dry; JJM supply intermittent within slots	Minimum slots (−60 min total; 3.1 Crisis rows); tanker mandatory; Section 3.6 activated	Drinking, cooking, essential hygiene only	Reserve fund released; tanker procured; PHED + Atal Bhujal notified; Gram Sabha within 7 days

Kanti's current GW extraction stage = 156% (CGWB 2024–25). Water buying for drinking is already common due to high TDS/fluoride — this is a water-quality issue, not an aquifer-stress trigger for supply scheduling.

3.3a Domestic Supply — Per Capita Delivery at Each Stress Level

Domestic supply manages equitable access and wastage — not aquifer extraction (domestic = ~0.14 MCM/yr vs 29.03 MCM agricultural). JJM norm: 55 L/capita/day. Baseline actual use: ~80 L/capita/day. Normal schedule sustains this; Crisis schedule maintains JJM norm with tanker supplement.

Supply Scenario	Estimated Supply Duration	Est. L/capita/day*	vs JJM Norm (55 L/cap/day)	Purpose
Current (unregulated, no schedule)	Variable; wastage common	~80 L	145% — above norm, wastage occurring	Baseline; no conservation
🟢 Normal (3 h/day)	3 h morning + evening	~70 L	127% — comfortably above JJM norm; meets actual community use pattern	Standard supply with waste reduction
🟡 Stress (2.5 h/day)	2.5 h morning + evening	~58 L	105% — meets JJM norm; adequate for all essential needs	Conservation without hardship
🔴 Crisis (2 h/day piped + tanker)	2 h piped + tanker supplement	~45 L piped + tanker top-up to ~55 L	~100% with tanker — JJM norm maintained	Emergency minimum; tanker bridges the gap

*Per-capita estimated at 3.4 persons/household (survey n=95); flow rate ~0.25 lpm per JJM connection (boosting station data). Extraction reduction comes exclusively from the irrigation schedule (Section 4) — domestic supply management prevents waste and inequity during stress.

3.4 Livestock Water

Livestock (buffaloes ~65 L/day, goats ~15 L/day; ~400 animals in 25% of households) draw water during domestic supply bands — not from irrigation wells. Total demand ≈13,500 L/day (0.005 MCM/year), manageable within domestic envelope.

3.5 Complaints & Response Timings

First contact for all complaints: Jal Bandhu of your cluster (see directory). Escalation path: Jal Bandhu → Secretary → President → Panchayat.

Complaint / Action Type	Lodge With	Acknowledgement	Resolution Timeline
Water supply failure / no water in slot	Jal Bandhu (verbal / phone)	Same day	24 hours
Broken public tap or common pipe leak	Jal Bandhu (verbal)	Same day	3–4 days (fund disbursed; repair arranged)
Household connection problem (private)	Jal Bandhu (verbal)	24 hours	Household's own responsibility; Jal Bandhu advises
Unfair supply scheduling or cluster inequity	Secretary (written)	48 hours	7 days (committee review + public roster change)
Water quality concern (smell, colour, taste)	Jal Bandhu + Secretary	48 hours	3 days for initial check; PHED sample within 7 days
Irrigation pump running during domestic band	Jal Bandhu (immediate verbal)	Immediate	Warning issued on spot; written register entry same day
Fund misuse or financial irregularity	Treasurer or anonymous Complaint Box	48 hours	7 days (audit); Gram Sabha informed if >₹5,000
Discrimination or access denial	VP (confidential)	48 hours	3 days (inquiry + mediation); escalate to Panchayat if unresolved

3.5a Key AWAS Calendar — Meeting & Collection Timings

Activity	Frequency	Fixed Date/Day	Responsible
Monthly AWAS Core Committee meeting	Monthly	4th Sunday of each month	President (chairs); Secretary (minutes)
Fund contribution collection by Jal Bandhu	Monthly	1st week of each month (days 1–7)	Jal Bandhu (collects per cluster)
Fund handover to Treasurer	Monthly	2nd Sunday of each month	Jal Bandhu → Treasurer; Blue Book signed
Water level reading (JJM boosting station logbook)	Monthly	1st of each month	Designated Jal Bandhu (on rotation)
Stress level declaration by Secretary	Monthly	Within 48 h of 1st of month reading	Secretary (proposes); President (approves)
Red Book / pump log submission (weekly)	Weekly	Every Sunday	Jal Bandhu → Secretary (WhatsApp photo or in person)
Quarterly audit of fund accounts	Quarterly	Last Sunday of March, June, Sep, Dec	Treasurer + Aarthik Paardarsita Dal
Annual Gram Sabha water review	Annual	January (post-Rabi; pre-summer planning)	President; all AWAS members + community
Water quality data log from PHED records	Bi-annual	April + October — Secretary requests latest PHED test results for Kanti borewells from PHED Narnaul office and logs them in AWAS Water Quality Register	Secretary

3.6 Cluster Scarcity Protocol

Level	Trigger — How to Identify It	Action	Fund	Timeline
L1	Yield drop signal (no meter needed): Borewell pump running longer than usual to fill the same tank, OR tail-end households receive noticeably less water than head-end during a full-duration slot. Jal Bandhu reports to Secretary with written note.	Reduce supply duration by 15 min per slot for affected cluster only; Jal Bandhu of the backup cluster (see table below) notified immediately as standby.	None	Same day
L2	Single well completely non-functional — pump failure, broken motor, or well gone dry, confirmed by Jal Bandhu observation	Secretary contacts pre-identified tanker service (AWAS Tanker Register, Sec 3.6a); delivery to central cluster collection point (school / Panchayat building / open ground). Pump repair initiated in parallel.	Up to ₹5,000 from Hardware & Repairs line: ₹1,500 for tanker + ₹3,500 for pump repair; Secretary approves both	Tanker: within 3–4 h of report. Pump repair: initiated within 24 h
L3	Multiple borewells dry or village-wide Crisis declared by Secretary	Tanker supply activated; one collection point per cluster (Panchayat/school/open ground); no cluster pumps extra from its own borewell	Reserve fund; tanker cost ≈₹500–1,500/trip	48 h; Gram Sabha within 7 days
L4	2+ borewells dry and village-wide Crisis persisting	Emergency supply only; AWAS Secretary writes formally to PHED, Atal Bhujal coordinator (District Mahendragarh), and Block Development Officer requesting government tanker or emergency intervention	Full reserve + emergency request to Atal Bhujal / JJM contingency	24 h; Gram Sabha within 72 h

Cluster	Primary Borewell	Jal Bandhu	Backup Cluster (L1–L2 support)
C-I · Bas Kanti / Mandir	TB-I	Mahesh Chauhan	C-II
C-II · Yadav ki Dhani	TB-II	Rajesh Singh	C-I
C-III · Golhada ki Dhani	TB-III	Lakshman + Amar Singh	C-IV
C-IV · Hospital area	TB-IV	Pyarelal	C-III
C-V · Near RO / ATM	TB-VI + Water ATM	Abhishek	C-VI
C-VI · RO / 20-tanki	TB-VII	Om Prakash	C-V

3.6a Tanker Pre-Registration — AWAS Tanker Register

The Secretary must maintain the following register and update it every April. During any L2–L4 event, the first available vendor on the list is contacted. If no vendor is reachable within 2 hours, Secretary escalates to the Block Development Office (BDO), Ateli, for government tanker support.

Vendor Name	Contact Number	Location	Tanker Capacity	Approx. Rate/Trip	Lead Time to Kanti	Last Updated
[Primary Vendor — to be confirmed by Secretary]	—	Ateli / Narnaul	5,000–10,000 L	₹500–1,500	~1–2 h	March 2026
[Secondary Vendor — to be confirmed by Secretary]	—	Mahendragarh	5,000–10,000 L	₹800–2,000	~2–3 h	March 2026
BDO Ateli (government emergency)	[Block office number — Secretary to confirm]	Ateli	Variable	Nil / subsidised	4–24 h (formal request required)	March 2026
PHED Narnaul Emergency Line	[PHED district number — Secretary to confirm]	Narnaul	Variable	Nil / subsidised	24–48 h (L4 only)	March 2026

Secretary is responsible for filling in actual vendor names and numbers at the April update each year and for noting any changes on the AWAS public board. The Tanker Register is a physical document kept with the Secretary's files — a copy is held by the President.

4 · Irrigation, Canal Water & Pond Regulation ▼

Single Validated Standard — Stage-Based Critical Irrigation
Current unregulated pumping = 1,440 Rabi pump-hours/well/year. Crop physiology (HAU Hisar / ICAR) confirms wheat needs 5 and mustard 2–3 irrigations per season. The scientifically validated target for Kanti: 70–80 pump-hours/well/Rabi season — 94–95% reduction with zero yield penalty when timed correctly. This is the single standard; no daily cap alongside it.

⏰ Domestic Supply Band Times — No Irrigation Permitted During These Periods
Farmers: you must not run any irrigation pump during the domestic supply bands below. These apply every day of the year regardless of season or stress level. Check Section 3.1 for the full supply table.

Winter / Post-Monsoon (Nov–Mar, Jul–Oct):
Morning band: 06:30–08:00 (Normal) / 06:30–07:45 (Stress) / 06:30–07:30 (Crisis)
Evening band: 15:00–16:30 (Normal) / 15:00–16:15 (Stress) / 15:00–16:00 (Crisis)

Summer (Apr–Jun):
Morning band: 06:00–07:00 (Normal) / 06:00–06:45 (Stress) / 06:00–06:30 (Crisis)
Midday band: 12:30–13:30 (Normal) / 12:30–13:15 (Stress) / 12:30–13:00 (Crisis)
Evening band: 15:30–16:30 (Normal) / 15:30–16:15 (Stress) / 15:30–16:00 (Crisis)

Irrigation Window A begins at 16:00 — the evening band always ends at or before 16:00 so there is no overlap. Violations follow the graded sanction ladder (Section 3.2 and Section 4.5).

⚠️ Status of the 70–80 h/Rabi Standard: This figure is the current operative rule — effective immediately. It is derived from farmer-reported data and HAU Hisar crop-stage studies and is sufficient to guide compliance and record violations now. It will be cross-validated against FEFLOW (Finite Element subsurface FLOW system) 3-D groundwater model results (Objective 2 of the research programme). If FEFLOW results indicate a different target, the Core Committee will table a charter amendment at the next Gram Sabha. Violations recorded under the 70–80 h standard remain valid regardless of any future revision — they are judged against the rule in force at the time of the violation.

4.1 Irrigation Windows

Agricultural electricity in Kanti is supplied by the Powerhouse on a fixed schedule that is the same for all private pump connections — all farmers receive power simultaneously. AWAS rules operate within this electricity window: farmers pump during the power band and must stop once they have consumed their permitted hours for the active crop stage. The windows below describe the approximate power schedule pattern; actual timings must be confirmed with the local Powerhouse each season.

Day Block	Power Window (approx.)	AWAS Rule
Days 1–3	Window A: 16:00–24:00	Irrigation only after domestic evening band ends (15:30 latest). No pumping during morning/midday domestic slots regardless of power availability.
Days 4–6	Window B: 20:00–04:00	Night window. All farmers with power pump during this shared window — AWAS rule is that each farmer stops when their permitted stage hours are consumed. Jal Bandhu tracks hours per farmer in Red Book.

4.2 Stage-Based Pumping Schedule

DAS = Days After Sowing. Exact calendar dates shift with the actual sowing date each year; Jal Bandhu and farmers convert DAS windows to local calendar weeks using the Patwari's sowing register.

Crop	Critical Stage	DAS (Days After Sowing)	Approx. Calendar	Permitted Hours
Wheat	Crown Root Initiation (CRI)	20–25 DAS	Late November	10 h/farmer
	Tillering	40–45 DAS	Mid December	10 h/farmer
	Jointing / Late Tillering	60–65 DAS	Early January	10 h/farmer
	Flowering	80–90 DAS	Late Jan – early Feb	10 h/farmer
	Milk / Grain Filling	100–105 DAS	Mid February	10 h/farmer (last irrigation)
Mustard	Rosette / Vegetative	25–35 DAS	Early–mid December	10 h/farmer
	Pre-flowering (dry years only)	45–55 DAS	Late Dec – early Jan	10 h if soil dry (farmer judgement)
	Pod / Siliqua Formation	60–80 DAS	Mid–late January	10 h/farmer (critical — never skip)
Monsoon crops (Cotton, Bajra)	Crop-stress periods only	Per crop physiology	Jun–Sep (~45 pumping days)	≤4 h/day; defer if soil visibly moist from rain

4.3 Operational Norms for Private Irrigation Connections

All irrigation in Kanti is from private borewell connections — no shared public irrigation borewell exists. These norms apply to all private connections without exception.

Continuous run limit: A single borewell pump must not run continuously for more than 4–5 hours in one stretch. After 4–5 hours of continuous pumping, a minimum 3-hour rest is required before the next run. This protects the pump motor and prevents localised aquifer draw-down around a single well.
No pumping during domestic supply bands: Applies to all private connections regardless of source. See band times at top of this section. Violations → graded sanction ladder (Sec 3.2).
Kheri Minor canal days: Canal-connected farmers must use canal water first; borewell pumping on a canal day must be logged with Jal Bandhu as supplemental only. Conservation norm — not sanctionable in Year 1; reviewed for enforcement from Year 2.
Soil moisture check: No rain gauge in Kanti. Farmers encouraged to check topsoil at 6-inch depth before irrigating — defer if visibly moist. Voluntary; Jal Bandhu notes but does not sanction.

4.3a Kharif Season Monitoring Protocol

During Kharif (June–September), irrigation rules are supplemental and partly voluntary (defer if soil moist). However, monitoring is still required — unregulated Kharif pumping contributes to annual extraction. The following monitoring steps apply:

Monitoring Item	How	Who	Frequency	Alert Trigger
Kharif pump hours logged	Red Book — same start/stop format as Rabi. Since all farmers receive power simultaneously, Jal Bandhu observes and logs actual pump hours per farmer during each power window event. Farmers are expected to inform Jal Bandhu of their pump status (running or resting) within the window so the log is accurate.	Jal Bandhu (observation + farmer confirmation)	Per pumping event; weekly Red Book submission to Secretary	Any single farmer exceeding ≤4 h/day rule: verbal warning same day
Rain event notation	Jal Bandhu notes any significant rain in Red Book (observation; no gauge required). If rain is noted, the expectation is that soil-moisture checks precede any pumping within 48 h.	Jal Bandhu	Same day as event	Pumping within 24 h of a noted rain event: Jal Bandhu raises awareness with farmer; not a sanctionable offence but recorded.
Kharif compliance summary	Secretary compiles total Kharif pump hours per cluster from Red Book logs and presents at Annual Gram Sabha (January).	Secretary	Annual (end of Kharif)	Any cluster with average >60 h/farmer/Kharif season: flag for Jagrukta Dal discussion and HAU Hisar consultation.
Private well Kharif hours	Private well owners are requested to self-report approximate Kharif pump hours to their Jal Bandhu. This is voluntary in Year 1; mandatory from Year 2 (to be confirmed by Gram Sabha).	Private well owners → Jal Bandhu	Monthly during Jun–Sep	Refusal to self-report in Year 2+ triggers a note in AWAS Private Well Ledger and VP review.

Kharif enforcement is lighter than Rabi — monsoon rainfall reduces pumping need substantially. Focus is on data collection in Year 1; stricter enforcement from Year 2.

4.4 Electricity Schedule and Pumping Windows

All private pump connections in Kanti receive agricultural electricity simultaneously on a Powerhouse schedule. AWAS rules operate within this window — stage-based permitted hours are the maximum; farmers stop when hours are consumed.

Hours consumed, not timing: All connections receive power simultaneously — no arbitration of start times. Farmer must stop when permitted stage hours are consumed. Jal Bandhu tracks cumulative hours per farmer per stage in Red Book.
Domestic band takes precedence: If agricultural power window overlaps a domestic supply band, no irrigation pump runs during the band. Jal Bandhu reports any such conflict to Secretary for representation to Powerhouse.
Power cuts: Make-up hours permitted in the next electricity window within the same DAS stage period. Jal Bandhu logs the outage and make-up event.

4.5 Irrigation Violation Sanctions

Since all irrigation in Kanti is from private connections, the question is never "private vs public well" — it is always about when and how much a farmer pumps. The following sanctions apply to schedule violations by any farmer regardless of their well ownership type.

Violation	Sanction	Who Applies	Escalation
Pumping during a domestic supply band (any time of year)	Graded ladder: 1st = verbal warning + Red Book entry same day; 2nd (within 30 days) = written notice from Secretary + ₹200; 3rd (within 60 days) = ₹500 + name at Gram Sabha + 30-day roster exclusion	Jal Bandhu (1st) → Secretary (2nd+)	Gram Panchayat on 4th offence
Pumping during a declared Crisis-period irrigation ban	Graded ladder accelerated — no verbal warning; written notice + ₹500 immediately on first observed violation during a declared Crisis. Second violation: ₹1,000 + Gram Panchayat referral	Secretary (issues notice); Jal Bandhu (reports)	Gram Panchayat on 2nd offence during Crisis
Deepening or capacity enhancement of any borewell without AWAS notification	Immediate suspension of AWAS roster slot for that well until the matter is reviewed by Core Committee; ₹1,000 penalty. Applies equally to private and shared wells — deeper wells draw more from the aquifer and affect all neighbours.	Core Committee (reviews within 7 days)	Gram Sabha on appeal; CGWB notification if well exceeds 200 ft deepening
Drilling a new borewell without registering with AWAS and Gram Panchayat	Well not recognised in AWAS Private Well Ledger; no AWAS services or scarcity support (tanker, fund repairs) for that well; formal complaint to Gram Panchayat. The farmer may still use the well but loses AWAS protection and support.	Secretary (lodges complaint)	Panchayat action under Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994

AWAS enforcement works through social accountability + Gram Panchayat co-action. AWAS has no independent statutory power to fine — penalties become enforceable when the Gram Panchayat endorses them under the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. The Gram Sabha resolution adopting this charter is the basis for that endorsement.

4.6 Season-by-Season Pumping Summary

Season	Period	Main Crops	Permitted Pumping Basis	Approx. Hours/Farmer (2.38 acres)	Notes
Rabi	Nov–Mar	Wheat (95% farmers), Mustard (98%)	Stage-based: pump only at 5 critical wheat stages and 2–3 mustard stages (Section 4.2)	≈50 h wheat + ≈20–30 h mustard = 70–80 h total	Most important season; irrigation compliance most strictly monitored
Kharif	Jun–Sep (~45 pumping days)	Cotton (80%), Bajra (95%)	Supplemental only during crop stress periods; defer if soil visibly moist; ≤4 h/day on pumping days	≈30–40 h cotton + ≈10–20 h bajra = 40–60 h depending on rainfall	Monsoon provides significant rainfall — pumping need is much lower; priority to aquifer recharge
Summer Fodder / Off-season	Apr–May	Berseem, fodder crops (limited area)	Only during declared Normal stress level; suspend entirely during Stress or Crisis; no night pumping	≤20 h (small area, limited farmers)	Summer is peak aquifer stress period — minimise all non-essential pumping
Year-round baseline	Full year (225 pumping days)	All crops combined	Validated stage-based standard	≈110–140 h/farmer/year (Rabi + Kharif)	vs current unregulated 1,800 h/year — ≈92–94% reduction. FEFLOW model will refine this figure.

AWAS discourages water-intensive off-season crops (summer vegetables requiring daily irrigation) during any Stress or Crisis period. Farmers are encouraged to contact the Block Agriculture Officer (BAO), Ateli, or HAU Hisar ATMA extension for guidance on low-water crop options. AWAS shall seek an annual technical review from HAU Hisar / CGWB / Block Agriculture Officer to ensure irrigation norms remain evidence-based.

4.7 Canal Water Regulation — Kheri Minor

💧 Kheri Minor — Access & Context: Kanti's irrigation canal is the Kheri Minor (Mahendragarh Canal W/S Division, Narnaul). ~30% of farmers (≈336 of 1,120 HH) have connections. Supply is not continuous — released on a roster every ~15 days during Rabi (Nov–Mar) and Kharif (Jun–Sep) by the Irrigation Dept (Canal Patwari / Nal Band, Ateli). AWAS cannot control release timing, but regulates how farmers use their turns and whether they also run borewells on the same day.

📋 PMKSY District Irrigation Plan Validation — Mahendragarh, 2016–2022 (NABCONS/GoI):

Ateli block GW status: Classified "Critical" (90% development stage, 2011 CGWB). Kanti's 2024–25 figure of 156% reflects continued deterioration. DIP explicitly: "further ground water development is not feasible in the District."
District-wide: All 5 Mahendragarh blocks classified Over-Exploited. District annual draft 227.8 MCM vs availability 224.80 MCM — already over-drafting by ~3 MCM as of 2011. Ateli block net GW availability: 4,763 ham (47.63 MCM).
Cropping intensity: Ateli Nangal = 199.35% (2nd highest in district) — Kanti's double-cropping is a primary depletion driver.
Canal command (Table 3-4, Mahendragarh Canal W/S Division Narnaul): Ateli block total canal command: 17,216 ha; developed: only 269 ha (1.6%). Confirms Kheri Minor infrastructure is underdeveloped — explains intermittent supply and high borewell dependence even among canal-connected farmers.
PMKSY plan for Ateli (Table 5-5): ₹55.13 crore over 6 years — including canal/UGPL rehabilitation (₹29.19 cr, Irrigation & CAD), drip/sprinkler/ATMA training (₹24.38 cr, Agriculture & Soil Conservation). AWAS's canal regulation directly complements this programme.
GW quality (DIP Sec 3.3.3): High nitrate at Kheri village (210 mg/l, well above BIS limit of 45 mg/l) — consistent with Kanti's own PHED data, validating AWAS's water quality advocacy mandate.

4.7.1 Canal Water Priority Principle

Every litre delivered by the Kheri Minor is one litre not pumped from the aquifer. The core rule: canal water must be used first and fully before any borewell pumping for that crop stage.

Canal-connected farmers (≈336 HH): Use canal allocation before running borewell. If canal fully meets the stage requirement, no borewell pumping is needed or permitted for that stage.
Canal turn notification: Inform Jal Bandhu the evening before a canal turn. JB logs date, duration, and area covered in Red Book — this reduces the farmer's borewell quota for that stage.
Partial canal supply: Farmer may supplement with borewell only for the shortfall (e.g., canal = 5 h equivalent → borewell max 5 h). Must be logged with Jal Bandhu.
Domestic band rule still applies on canal days: No canal diversion or borewell supplement during domestic supply bands — canal channels during band hours cause pressure loss in shared pipelines.

4.7.2 Canal Water Schedule and Monitoring

Item	Detail	Who Manages
Canal release frequency	Approximately every 15 days during Rabi (Nov–Mar) and Kharif (Jun–Sep). Exact dates set by Irrigation Dept (Canal Patwari / Nal Band, Ateli). AWAS has no control over timing but tracks actual release dates in the Red Book.	Irrigation Dept (schedules) · Jal Bandhu (logs)
Advance notice to Jal Bandhu	Canal-connected farmers must notify their cluster Jal Bandhu at least the evening before a canal turn. Jal Bandhu updates the Red Book with: date, estimated duration of flow, approximate field area covered.	Farmer (notifies) · Jal Bandhu (logs)
Aquifer benefit tracking	At end of each Rabi season, Secretary compiles the number of canal turns taken across all canal-connected farmers and calculates estimated borewell hours saved. This is reported at the Annual Gram Sabha as an "aquifer relief" indicator.	Secretary (compiles) · Annual Gram Sabha (reviews)
Non-canal farmers and canal days	Farmers without canal connections are not affected by canal day rules — their borewell schedule continues per the standard stage-based roster. However, if a canal release significantly recharges a pond (see Sec 4.8), all farmers in that cluster benefit.	Jal Bandhu (informs non-canal farmers of any pond recharge)
Canal failure / delayed release	If a scheduled canal turn is cancelled or delayed by the Irrigation Dept, the affected farmers may revert to their standard borewell stage allocation for that window. Jal Bandhu notes the canal failure in Red Book. Secretary logs persistent canal failures for formal representation to the Irrigation Department.	Farmer (reports failure) · Jal Bandhu (logs) · Secretary (represents to Irrigation Dept if recurring)
AWAS liaison with Irrigation Dept	Secretary maintains the contact details of the local Canal Patwari / Nal Band officer and requests the annual canal roster (schedule of expected release dates) at the start of each Rabi and Kharif season. This roster is posted on the AWAS public board for canal-connected farmers.	Secretary (annual roster request)

4.7.3 Canal Water Violations

Violation	Sanction	Escalation
Canal-connected farmer runs borewell for full stage hours on the same day as a canal turn without reporting partial canal supply shortfall to Jal Bandhu	1st = verbal reminder; 2nd = written register entry; 3rd = treated as a schedule violation (₹200) and excess borewell hours deducted from next stage allocation	Secretary on 3rd occurrence
Canal-connected farmer fails to notify Jal Bandhu of an upcoming canal turn	Verbal reminder; if systematic (3+ times in a season), written register entry and Jagrukta Dal follow-up meeting	VP (addresses at cluster meeting)
Canal field channels run during domestic supply band	Immediate request by Jal Bandhu to divert/close the channel; if non-compliant, same graded sanction ladder as borewell domestic band violation (Sec 3.2)	Secretary on 2nd offence

AWAS cannot control the Irrigation Department's release schedule, canal maintenance, or inter-village water disputes. Where a canal issue requires external intervention (e.g., canal is blocked upstream, another village is diverting Kanti's share), the President writes formally to the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Irrigation, Mahendragarh, with Secretary's documentation. This is outside AWAS's direct jurisdiction but AWAS provides the village with a documented evidence base for such representations.

4.8 Pond Regulation — Scarcity Period Irrigation

🪷 Kanti's 4 Ponds — Role and Status: Kanti has 4 ponds (johads / talab) which historically served as surface water storage and recharge structures. During normal years, the ponds are primarily used by livestock and contribute passively to aquifer recharge. During scarcity periods — particularly summer and declared Crisis months — some farmers use pond water for supplemental irrigation of nearby fields. This section governs that use to ensure ponds remain available for livestock, recharge, and emergency purposes, and are not depleted by unregulated individual irrigation.

4.8.1 Pond Use Principles

Recharge first: Ponds are primarily recharge structures. Water stored in ponds percolates into the aquifer over time — drawing from them for irrigation directly reduces this recharge benefit. Pond irrigation is therefore a last resort, not a first choice.
Livestock access protected: Livestock watering from ponds is a right that cannot be displaced by irrigation activity at any time. No irrigation drawing from a pond may occur during the early morning hours (06:00–09:00) when livestock are typically watered.
Scarcity-period priority: During Stress or Crisis level declarations, ponds serve as emergency water sources for both domestic (emergency supplemental) and livestock use. Individual irrigation use of pond water is suspended during any declared Crisis level.
No pond deepening or bund modification without AWAS + Panchayat approval: Ponds are common-pool resources. Any deepening, bund raising, inlet/outlet modification, or desilting activity requires AWAS + Gram Panchayat approval. These activities may be beneficial (desilting increases capacity) or harmful (bund reduction reduces storage) — AWAS assesses each case.

4.8.2 Pond Irrigation — Permitted Use and Rules

Stress Level	Pond Irrigation Permitted?	Conditions
🟢 Normal	Yes — with notification	Adjacent farmers may draw for supplemental irrigation. Notify Jal Bandhu before drawing; JB logs date, farmer, estimated volume. Livestock access must not be disrupted. JB observes pond level weekly during active use.
🟡 Stress	Limited — JB approval per event	Verbal approval from JB before each draw. JB checks pond level first. Max: 2 h motor pumping per event. No draw if visible level below ~30% of full. Livestock windows strictly protected.
🔴 Crisis	No individual irrigation	Ponds reserved for: livestock watering and emergency domestic supplemental (JB-managed, not individual). Violations = Crisis irrigation ban (Sec 4.5: ₹500 + Gram Panchayat referral).

4.8.3 Pond Monitoring and Maintenance

Action	Frequency	Who	Output
Visual pond level observation	Monthly (1st of month — same day as water level reading); weekly during active irrigation season and Stress periods	Cluster Jal Bandhu responsible for nearest pond	Entry in Red Book: "Pond [name/location] — level: Full / Half / Low / Near-dry"
Pond irrigation log	Per drawing event	Jal Bandhu (logs each approved event)	Red Book entry: date, farmer, method (gravity/pump), estimated hours
Annual pond status report	Annual (January Gram Sabha)	Secretary (compiles from Red Book)	4-pond status summary: current level, number of irrigation events in the year, any maintenance needed. Presented alongside SDG scorecard.
Desilting / maintenance planning	As needed (typically every 3–5 years per pond)	AWAS Core Committee (proposes) · Gram Sabha (approves) · Rakhraav Dal (coordinates)	Desilting increases pond capacity — funded from Jal Kosh hardware budget or MGNREGS application. Secretary applies to BDO Ateli for MGNREGS pond desilting work.

Pond assignment by cluster: Secretary to confirm which Jal Bandhu is responsible for monitoring which pond based on proximity. This assignment is recorded in the AWAS governance file and updated if cluster boundaries are revised. Each pond should have a name or reference number in AWAS records — "Pond near school," "Pond north of C-III," etc. — confirmed at the first cluster meeting after charter adoption.

5 · Water Fund (Jal Kosh) ▼

5.1 Participation Roadmap

Move the slider above to see which milestone Kanti is at and what the fund can deliver.

5.2 Annual Budget Breakdown — Updates with Participation Slider

Use Category	Share	Annual Amount	Approximate Deliverable	Emergency Trigger
Hardware & Repairs (valves, pipes, taps)	35%	—	—	L1–L2: up to ₹5,000/event
Routine O&M (pump servicing, JJM coordination)	25%	—	Regular pump + tank servicing	—
Monitoring (water level log; PHED quality records)	10%	—	Register maintenance; bi-annual PHED data request	Continuous
Awareness & Governance (meetings, IEC, training)	10%	—	Monthly AWAS meetings; annual farmer irrigation training	Continuous
Reserve & Emergency Response	20%	—	Tanker trips (~₹500–1,500 each); emergency pump repair	L3: 50% release; L4: full release + Atal Bhujal

Estimate how many valves and pump flow meters the annual Hardware allocation can install, based on current market prices in Haryana (2025).

Valve type: Pump flow meter type:

Priority: install valves on public taps and shared connections first (identified as top community need in FGD 2025). Install flow meters on 2–3 representative public borewells for discharge measurement in Year 1.

5.3 Sanctions, Non-Payment Rules, Fund Governance & Penalty Collection

Violation	Sanction
1st offense (non-payment or rule breach)	Verbal/WhatsApp warning from Jal Bandhu; explanation at next monthly meeting.
2nd offense	₹500 penalty to fund; written register entry.
3 consecutive months non-payment	Name read at Gram Sabha; services from fund temporarily withheld — specifically: the household is not eligible for fund-supported valve installation or emergency repair until dues are cleared. Tanker water during a village-wide Crisis (L3/L4) is not withheld — basic survival supply is not conditioned on payment.
Irrigation pumping during domestic supply band	Graded ladder per Section 3.2 sanction table.

💰 Penalty Collection Procedure — Step by Step:
Fines and penalties are real money and require a clear collection chain. The following procedure applies to all monetary penalties in this charter:

Day 1 — Written notice: Secretary issues notice (violation, date, amount, 14-day deadline) hand-delivered by Jal Bandhu or WhatsApp with read confirmation.
Days 1–14 — Payment: Cash to cluster Jal Bandhu; AWAS receipt issued (pre-numbered book held by Treasurer). Genuine hardship → written extension request to Treasurer; max 1 extension per household per year.
Day 17 — Handover: Jal Bandhu hands penalty + receipt to Treasurer by next 2nd Sunday collection date.
Non-payment after 14 days: Name added to next Gram Sabha agenda. No fine waived without Core Committee approval.
Refusal to pay: Secretary → President (mediation, 7 days) → Gram Panchayat Sarpanch (adjudication under Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994).

📋 Fund Governance Rules

Bank account: Savings account at nearest nationalised bank (Ateli/Narnaul). Joint-signatory — any 2 of 3 (President, Secretary, Treasurer) required for any withdrawal. Account number, bank name, IFSC posted on public board and updated at each annual review.
Signatory change procedure: If any signatory leaves the committee (resignation, term end, or removal), the new office-holder must be added to the bank mandate within 30 days. Treasurer maintains a signatory register.
Spend approval thresholds (confirming RACI table): Up to ₹5,000 — Treasurer + Secretary approval, President informed. ₹5,001–₹20,000 — Core Committee majority vote (≥3 of 4). Above ₹20,000 — Gram Sabha approval required before disbursement.
Reserve ratio: At all times, at least 20% of the cumulative fund balance shall be maintained as an untouched emergency reserve. This reserve may only be released by Core Committee decision under L3 or L4 scarcity, or by Gram Sabha resolution for a major infrastructure need.
Administrative cost cap: The combined spend on Awareness & Governance (meetings, stationery, printing, travel) shall not exceed 10% of the annual collection in any financial year. Any overspend requires Gram Sabha approval.
External / Social Audit: AWAS accounts shall be presented at the Annual Gram Sabha (January) for public review. Once every 2 years, an independent auditor — chosen by Gram Sabha from outside the AWAS committee (e.g., a retired government accountant, a NABARD representative, or a nominated SHG federation member) — shall review the fund books. The audit report shall be posted on the AWAS public board and portal.
Atal Bhujal co-financing: AWAS shall annually apply to the Atal Bhujal programme district office for matching funds, submitting the fund ledger and water level register as evidence of community co-investment.

6 · Shared Wells & Farmer Cost Savings ▼

6.1 Rules for New Wells

No new solo irrigation borewell without AWAS + Panchayat approval. AWAS records all approvals in a dedicated register submitted quarterly to the Gram Panchayat office and the Block-level Irrigation / PHED office (Ateli Block, Mahendragarh).
Priority to shared wells (2–4 farmers) replacing clusters of failing bores.
Each shared well requires a written agreement: owners, cost shares, time shares, conflict resolution steps.
For each new deep shared well, 2–3 old private bores in the micro-zone should be voluntarily capped. Panchayat Resolution to formalise in 2026.
Private well registration: All existing borewells registered in AWAS Private Well Ledger by December 2026. Records: owner name, cluster, depth, pump HP, approximate Rabi pump hours. New wells must register before first use. Sanctions for unregistered wells in Sec 4.5.

📝 Shared Well Written Agreement — Minimum Required Contents:
Every shared well (2–4 farmers) must have a written agreement before first use. It must be signed by all co-owners, witnessed by the Jal Bandhu, and a copy filed with the AWAS Secretary. The agreement must cover at minimum:

Parties: Full names, father's names, and land khasra numbers of all co-owners.
Well details: Approximate location (field number / GPS if available), drilling depth (ft), pump HP, and year drilled.
Cost shares: Original drilling cost, each party's contribution (amount and percentage), and any outstanding balance owed between parties.
Maintenance shares: How ongoing O&M costs (pump servicing, electricity, repair) are divided — typically proportional to land holdings irrigated.
Time shares / pumping roster: How weekly or seasonal pump slots are divided among co-owners. Roster must be consistent with the AWAS stage-based schedule (Section 4.2). Jal Bandhu holds the master roster.
Conflict resolution: If co-owners disagree on slot allocation or cost sharing — first step is Jal Bandhu mediation; second step is Secretary; third step is President; fourth step is Gram Panchayat Sarpanch. Timeline: each step has 7 days to resolve before escalating.
Entry / exit of a co-owner: 30 days' notice required to leave. Share transferred by sale to remaining co-owners or addition of a new AWAS-approved co-owner. Unilateral sale without co-owner consent and Secretary notification is not permitted.
AWAS obligations: All co-owners confirm they have read and accept the AWAS Charter pumping norms, and that the well is subject to AWAS monitoring, sanctions, and the cluster Jal Bandhu's jurisdiction.

Template forms are available from the AWAS Secretary. Agreements may be written in Hindi; a Hindi template is maintained in the Secretary's register.

🔵 Jal Bandhu Jurisdiction over Private Wells: Any well whose field command area lies predominantly within Cluster X is under Jal Bandhu X's monitoring responsibility — regardless of exact land boundary or administrative boundary between hamlets. Where a well straddles two clusters, the Jal Bandhu whose cluster contains the pump location has primary responsibility. Disputes over jurisdiction are resolved by the Secretary.

AWAS rules operate through social legitimacy + Panchayat endorsement. Statutory enforcement requires Gram Panchayat co-action under the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.

⚠️ Private Well Registration Deadline — December 2026: Consequences of Non-Compliance
The December 2026 deadline applies to all existing private irrigation borewells. Section 4.5 sanctions apply to new unregistered wells drilled after this charter is adopted. For existing wells that fail to register by December 2026, the following graduated response applies:

January 2027 — Written notice: Secretary sends a written notice to the owner (via Jal Bandhu) stating that their well is unregistered and requesting registration within 30 days.
February 2027 — AWAS services withheld: If still unregistered, the well owner is not eligible for fund-supported hardware (valves, meters), emergency repair support, or scarcity-period tanker allocation from AWAS until registration is completed.
February 2027 — Gram Sabha notification: Names of non-registered well owners are read at the next Gram Sabha. President formally requests Sarpanch to take note.
March 2027 and beyond: Secretary formally refers persistent non-registrants to the Gram Panchayat with a written request to record the unregistered well in Panchayat land records and pursue action under the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.

AWAS cannot compel registration by force — these measures rely on social pressure, service denial, and Panchayat co-action. A household that genuinely lacks documents (e.g., verbal ownership, unclear khasra records) may approach the Secretary for assistance in completing registration with available information.

Cost norms derived from: Haryana Agriculture Department tube well scheme unit costs (2022–24); farmer interviews in Mahendragarh district (Kanti field survey, Oct 2025); CGWB borewell drilling cost estimates for Haryana semi-arid zone. Solo well premium for failed attempts based on community-reported data: 35–50% of farmers in Kanti region report at least one failed drilling attempt before striking water.

Number of farmers sharing well: Well depth (ft):

7 · Monitoring, Grievances & SDG ▼

7.1 Monitoring Indicators

Water quality baseline (PHED Oct 2023, n=5): TDS 1,650–3,580 mg/l (all exceed BIS 10500 desirable 500 mg/l; Kanti-1 at 3,580 and Kanti-2 at 2,710 require source action). Fluoride 0.99–1.1 mg/l (within 1.5 mg/l limit). Nitrate 2.7–3.6 mg/l (within limit).

Indicator	How Measured	Who	Frequency	Alert & Action
Pump hours	Red Book start/stop log	Jal Bandhu	Daily	Pumping outside critical stage: warning same day
Water level	JJM boosting station logbook; fallback: measuring rope in reference dug well	One Jal Bandhu on rotation	Monthly (1st)	Stress/Crisis crossed: Secretary declares within 48 h
TDS, Fluoride, Bacteria	Secretary requests PHED test results for Kanti borewells from PHED Narnaul; logs in AWAS Water Quality Register	Secretary	Bi-annual (April + October)	TDS >500 mg/l: flag for RO/blending. TDS >2,000 or Fluoride >1.5: notify PHED in writing for source action
Pumping compliance	Jal Bandhu observation vs roster	Jal Bandhu	Weekly	<80%: Secretary convenes Core Committee review within 7 days. Committee identifies which clusters and which farmers are non-compliant, adjusts roster if needed, and issues written warnings where required. If compliance remains below 80% for 2 consecutive months, President escalates to Gram Sabha at next meeting.
Fund collection	Blue Book % households paid	Treasurer	Monthly	<60%: Treasurer notifies VP within 48 h. VP directs Jagrukta Dal to hold a cluster meeting in the affected cluster(s) within 14 days. Meeting agenda: explain fund purpose, identify barriers to contribution, document hardship exemption requests if applicable. Secretary records outcomes in minutes.

7.2 Grievances

Type	Lodge With	Timeline	Resolution
Water access / supply failure	Jal Bandhu (verbal)	24 h	Jal Bandhu fixes; escalates to Secretary if unresolved
Unfair scheduling	Secretary (written)	7 days	Committee review; public roster adjustment
Water quality	Jal Bandhu + Secretary	3 days	Sample tested; PHED notified if TDS >2,000 or F >1.5
Infrastructure failure	Jal Bandhu (phone)	24–48 h	Fund if <₹5,000; Committee if more
Fund misuse	Treasurer / anonymous box	7 days	Audit; Gram Sabha if >₹5,000
Discrimination	VP (confidential)	3 days	Inquiry; escalate to Panchayat if unresolved

7.3 SDG 6.1 — Legal Basis for Safe Water & Stress-SDG Mapping

🗺️ Stress Level → SDG 6.4.2 Category (for block officials, donors, external reviewers)

🟢 Normal
Extraction stage ≤130%, stable
→ SDG 6.4.2: "On track"

🟡 Stress
Stage 130–156%, declining
→ SDG 6.4.2: "At risk"

🔴 Crisis
Stage >156%, accelerating
→ SDG 6.4.2: "Off track"

Village scorecard (Section 1) translates these thresholds into 5 headline indicators reviewed annually at Gram Sabha.

⚖️ SDG 6.1 — Legal Mechanisms for Safe Water in Kanti:

JJM (GoI, 2019): Mandates 55 L/capita/day via FHTCs — AWAS can formally request JJM to enforce quality compliance as a service standard.
BIS 10500:2012 + Article 21: PHED is legally obligated to meet TDS ≤2,000 mg/l and Fluoride ≤1.5 mg/l. AWAS files formal complaint citing Kanti-1 TDS at 3,580 mg/l (Oct 2023 data). Right to Safe Drinking Water is protected under Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar, 1991.
Atal Bhujal / NRDWP: Fund RO plants and source switching — AWAS's measured water quality data is the application evidence.
Community actions: Prioritise low-TDS borewells for drinking · Request PHED for RO on Kanti-1/Kanti-2 · Educate households to use Water ATM for drinking.

SDG Target	Indicator	AWAS Mechanism	Baseline	Target
6.1 Safe Water	% with water <2,000 mg/l TDS	PHED advocacy; JJM quality complaint; low-TDS borewell priority	~40% (3/5 sampled below 2,000)	100% by 2027; <500 mg/l by 2030 via RO
6.4.1 Efficiency	L/capita/day domestic use	Supply bands; valve compliance; awareness	~80 L/capita/day (survey)	Maintain ≤100 L; reduce wastage
6.4.2 Stress	GW extraction stage (%)	Stage-based irrigation schedule; FEFLOW model validation	156% (Kanti, CGWB 2024–25); Ateli block classified "Critical" at 90% — PMKSY DIP 2016 (NABCONS/GoI); all Mahendragarh blocks Over-Exploited per CGWB	<130% by Year 2; <100% by Year 5
6.5.1 IWRM	Ostrom score (8 principles)	Annual self-audit; committee logs	All failing/latent	≥5 active Yr 1; ≥8 Yr 3
6.b Participation	% women; % households contributing	Gender + inclusion quotas; Blue Book	0% women in committee; 0% contributing (fund not yet launched)	≥33% women; ≥60% contributing Dec 2026

8–9 · Crop Irrigation Schedule & Extraction Index ▼

Crop Water Requirements

Crop	Irrigations/Season	Hrs/Irrigation (avg 2.38 ac)	Total Hrs/Farmer	Basis
Wheat	5 (CRI, tillering, jointing, flowering, grain fill)	≈10 h	≈50 h	HAU Hisar / ICAR
Mustard	2–3 (rosette, pod formation; optional pre-flowering)	≈10 h	≈20–30 h	HAU Hisar
Cotton	3–4 (establishment, squaring, boll formation)	≈10 h	≈30–40 h	CICR / HAU
Bajra	1–2 (supplemental only; primarily rainfed)	≈10 h	≈10–20 h	HAU Hisar
Rabi combined	≈7–8	≈10 h	≈70–80 h	Validated standard

Extraction Index

Scenario	Pump-Hours/Well/Year	Village Extraction (MCM/yr)	Index	Aquifer Status
Current (unregulated)	≈1,440 h Rabi + monsoon	29.03 MCM	1.00 (156%)	Over-exploited; −6 cm/yr
Stage-Based Schedule (AWAS target)	≈70–80 h Rabi + limited monsoon	Est. 4–6 MCM (pending model)	≈0.14–0.20	Within sustainable yield; recovery possible 5–10 yrs
Sustainable Yield (CGWB)	Reference	18.57 MCM	1.00 (100%)	Stable long-term

Return flows not deducted above — net extraction will be lower. Quantified in forthcoming FEFLOW (Finite Element subsurface FLOW system) groundwater model analysis.

10 · Governance: Amendments, Dissolution & Climate Contingency ▼

10.1 Charter Amendment Procedure

This charter is a living document. Rules should change when evidence, community experience, or external conditions (FEFLOW results, policy changes, new government schemes) make the current rules inadequate. The following procedure governs all amendments:

Step	Action	Who	Timeline & Conditions
1 — Proposal	Any Core Committee member, Jal Bandhu, or 10+ households may propose an amendment by submitting a written note to the Secretary stating: the current rule, the proposed change, and the reason for the change.	Any of the above	Any time
2 — Committee Review	Core Committee reviews the proposal at its next monthly meeting (or an extraordinary meeting if urgency justifies). Committee may endorse, reject, or modify the proposal. Decision recorded in minutes.	Core Committee	Within 30 days of receipt
3 — Community Notice	If endorsed, the proposed amendment is posted on the AWAS public board and announced in all 6 clusters by Jal Bandhus at least 21 days before the Gram Sabha at which it will be voted on. This gives households time to review and prepare feedback.	Secretary (posting) + Jal Bandhus (announcement)	Minimum 21 days notice
4 — Gram Sabha Vote	Simple majority of those present. Quorum: ≥10% adult village population (≈500 adults) or all registered AWAS household representatives, whichever is lower. Fund structure / sanction level / inclusion quota changes require two-thirds majority.	Gram Sabha (President presides; Secretary records)	Any regular or special Gram Sabha
5 — Documentation	Passed amendment is written into the charter (or a formal addendum if digital update is not possible), signed by President, VP, and Sarpanch, and version-dated. All Jal Bandhus receive an updated copy within 7 days. The amended charter is the operative document from the date of signing.	Secretary (drafts); President + VP + Sarpanch (sign)	Within 14 days of Gram Sabha vote
6 — FEFLOW / Research Trigger	When FEFLOW model results (or peer-reviewed research) suggest the 70–80 h/Rabi pumping standard should be revised, the Core Committee must table this as a charter amendment within 60 days of receiving the findings. The scientific report is attached as an annex to the amendment proposal.	Secretary (proposes); Core Committee; Gram Sabha (approves)	Within 60 days of findings

Emergency operational changes (e.g., adjusting a supply slot time due to a power schedule change) that do not alter the charter's rules may be made by Core Committee majority decision and communicated to households immediately, without a Gram Sabha vote. These are operational decisions, not charter amendments, and must be documented in meeting minutes within 7 days.

10.2 Annual Review — January Gram Sabha Agenda

Each January Gram Sabha water review must include the following structured items, in addition to any other agenda:

#	Agenda Item	Presented By	Decision Required
1	Village Scorecard review — 5 headline indicators (Section 1) vs targets	Secretary	Vote: targets on track / needs intervention? Any charter amendment needed?
2	Fund accounts review — collection %, expenditure by category, reserve balance	Treasurer	Gram Sabha approval of accounts; any spending reallocation needed?
3	Pumping norms review — is the 70–80 h Rabi standard still appropriate? Any new FEFLOW or HAU Hisar data available?	Secretary (compiles Red Book data); any external technical input	Confirm norms continue / propose amendment
4	Jal Bandhu performance review — Red Book compliance rates per cluster; any accountability actions taken in the year	VP	Note and record; any re-election or replacement needed?
5	Conflict of interest declarations signed by all Core Committee members	Secretary (facilitates)	All members sign; filed in governance register
6	Inclusion audit — are gender (≥33% women) and SC/ST (≥1 seat) quotas met? If not, re-election within 30 days.	VP	Confirm or trigger re-election
7	SDG scorecard posted on public board and submitted to Atal Bhujal district coordinator	Secretary	Confirm posting date; record acknowledgement from Atal Bhujal if received
8	Tanker Register updated — vendor names and contact numbers confirmed	Secretary	Updated register signed and posted on public board

10.3 Dissolution of AWAS — Fund and Record Disposition

Dissolution requires a two-thirds Gram Sabha majority with ≥15% adult village quorum. Cannot occur during a declared Stress or Crisis.

Fund balance: Transferred to Gram Panchayat's designated water infrastructure account (not general funds), with written transfer agreement signed by Sarpanch + President specifying water-only use.
Records: All registers (Red Book, Blue Book, Private Well Ledger, violation register, minutes) handed to Gram Panchayat office within 30 days; preserved minimum 10 years.
Bank account: Closed only after fund transfer is confirmed in writing; closing statement filed with Gram Panchayat.
Re-establishment: AWAS may apply to recover the transferred balance for water infrastructure use, subject to Gram Sabha approval.
Panchayat change: New Panchayat must hold a Gram Sabha within 90 days to confirm or withdraw recognition. AWAS continues operating under existing signatories during this period. Withdrawal triggers the dissolution procedure above.

10.4 Climate and Drought Year Contingency

Haryana's inter-annual rainfall variability can push Kanti into Crisis as early as November. The standard stress framework assumes typical seasonal patterns; this section adds drought-specific triggers and responses.

🌡️ Three Drought Year Triggers:

State/District declaration: Government of Haryana or District Collector Mahendragarh declares drought → AWAS elevates monitoring to weekly immediately.
Local early warning: JJM logbook shows water level >1 m below same month previous year → Secretary declares internal "Drought Watch" + convenes Core Committee within 7 days.
Kharif rainfall failure: BAO Ateli confirms Kharif rainfall <60% of 30-yr average → Rabi allocations pre-emptively reduced by 20% (56–64 h instead of 70–80 h), pending Core Committee review within 30 days.

10.4a Drought Year Adaptation Measures

Measure	Trigger	Action	Who Decides	Duration
Elevated monitoring frequency	State / District drought declaration OR local Drought Watch	Water level reading every 2 weeks instead of monthly; Jal Bandhu Red Book submissions twice weekly; Secretary reviews compliance weekly.	Secretary (implements); Core Committee (confirms at next meeting)	Until state declaration lifted OR water level recovers to previous year's level
Pre-emptive Rabi reduction	Kharif rainfall <60% of 30-yr average (BAO confirmation)	Permitted Rabi pump hours reduced by 20% (56–64 h instead of 70–80 h). Stage-based windows remain unchanged; only total hours per stage are reduced proportionally.	Core Committee majority vote; Gram Sabha notified at next meeting	For that Rabi season; re-assessed before the following Rabi sowing
Early scarcity declaration	Crisis-level indicators observed before May (unusually early)	Section 3.6 L3/L4 scarcity protocol activated regardless of calendar month. Gram Sabha convened within 7 days.	Secretary proposes; President declares	Until Crisis conditions resolve
Emergency crop advisory	Any Drought Watch or declared drought year	AWAS Secretary writes to Block Agriculture Officer (BAO), Ateli, and HAU ATMA extension requesting advisory on lower-water crop varieties and irrigation efficiency for that season. Advisory shared with all farmers via Jal Bandhus within 14 days of receipt.	Secretary (writes); Jagrukta Dal (distributes advisory)	Annual (once per drought year)
Linkage to district drought relief	State / District declaration	President writes formally to District Collector Mahendragarh and Atal Bhujal district coordinator requesting inclusion of Kanti in any government drought relief or emergency water supply programme. AWAS fund accounts and SDG scorecard are attached as evidence of community co-investment.	President (signs letter); Secretary (prepares documentation)	Within 14 days of district declaration

These contingency measures are additional to — not replacements for — the standard stress/crisis framework in Section 3.3. A drought year may move through Normal → Stress → Crisis faster than a typical year; the measures above give the committee the tools to respond earlier and more systematically. The BAO, Ateli contact: Block Agriculture Office, Ateli Block, Mahendragarh District (contact number to be confirmed and held by Secretary).

How to Use This Charter ▼

This charter is a living governance document for Kanti's water committee (AWAS). Different roles need different parts of it. The table below tells each reader what to know by heart and what to use as reference.

Role	Must Know by Heart	Reference When Needed
Sarpanch / Gram Panchayat	Section 2 (governance structure, quorum, decision rules); Section 5 (fund oversight, external audit clause); Section 7.3 (SDG scorecard targets); Section 10.1 (amendment procedure — your role in Gram Sabha approval)	Section 1 (values); Section 6 (shared wells legal basis); Section 8–9 (irrigation norms for farmer disputes); Section 10.3 (dissolution — fund disposition rules)
AWAS Core Committee (President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer)	Section 2 (RACI table, roles, quorum, conflict of interest); Section 3.3 (stress thresholds and declaration process); Section 5 (fund rules, bank account, audit, sanctions); Section 7 (monitoring indicators and targets); Section 10 (amendments, annual review agenda, dissolution, climate contingency)	Section 3.6 (scarcity protocol); Section 4 (irrigation enforcement); Section 8–9 (crop schedule details)
Jal Bandhu (all 6)	Section 2.3 (daily / weekly / monthly duties, accountability, onboarding protocol); Section 2.3a (grievance against Jal Bandhu — know the process); Section 3.1 (supply schedule for current season and stress level); Section 3.6 (cluster scarcity trigger and L1–L4 actions); Section 4.2 (which crop stages permit pumping); Section 4.3a (Kharif monitoring duties)	Section 3.5 (complaint timings); Section 5 (fund collection procedure and penalty collection); Section 3.3 (stress indicator checklist and decision hierarchy)
SHG / Women Members	Section 2 (gender and inclusion seats clause); Section 3.1 (supply schedule and your rights); Section 3.5 (how to file a complaint); Section 5 (fund contribution and hardship exemption process); Section 2.3a (how to raise a grievance against a Jal Bandhu)	Section 7.3 (village scorecard — track equity indicators); Section 1 (baseline — use in awareness sessions); Section 10.2 (annual review — inclusion audit)
Farmers	Section 4 (domestic band times — embedded at top; stage-based irrigation windows); Section 4.2 (stage-based schedule); Section 4.3 (electricity schedule and operational norms); Section 4.7 (canal water rules — if you have a Kheri Minor connection); Section 4.8 (pond use rules); Section 6 (shared well rules and written agreement requirements)	Section 8–9 (crop water requirement details and calculator); Section 4.1 (power windows); Section 4.5 (violation sanctions); Section 10.4 (drought year — your allocations may reduce)
Line Departments (PHED, Atal Bhujal, Agriculture)	Section 7.3 (village scorecard — headline indicators and SDG targets); Section 3.3 (stress thresholds for crisis response); Section 1 (baseline data)	Section 2 (governance structure for coordination); Section 5 (fund for co-financing opportunities); Section 4 (pumping schedule for model input); Section 10.4 (drought contingency — AWAS requests support from your office)

Sections marked "Must Know" are the operational core — Jal Bandhus and committee members should be able to act on these without looking them up. Reference sections are consulted when a specific situation arises.

11 · Implementation Plan — Starting AWAS in the Village ▼

📋 This section: How to start AWAS — a 18-month action checklist for the Core Committee and Jagrukta Dal covering Gram Sabha resolution, Jal Bandhu training, farmer workshops, fund launch, and monitoring setup.

11.1 Phase 0 — Foundation: Month 1

These 4 steps must be completed before any rules are enforced or contributions collected.

#	Action	Who	Output	Deadline
F1	Gram Sabha Resolution — Gram Sabha votes to: (a) recognise AWAS, (b) authorise Jal Kosh fund, (c) endorse pumping schedule + domestic band rules, (d) authorise Jal Bandhus as community water guardians. This is the legal foundation for all enforcement.	Sarpanch (convenes) · President (presents) · Secretary (minutes)	Signed resolution with quorum count; filed at Gram Panchayat + AWAS governance file.	Month 1, Wk 1–2
F2	Open Jal Kosh Bank Account — Joint-signatory savings account at nearest nationalised bank (Ateli/Narnaul). Signatories: President + Secretary + Treasurer. Bank requires Gram Sabha resolution + ID documents + Gram Panchayat letterhead.	Treasurer (leads) · President + Secretary (co-signatories)	Account number, IFSC, passbook. Posted on AWAS public board + recorded in Sec 5.	Month 1, Wk 2–3
F3	Set Up Physical Registers — Secretary sets up: 6× Red Books (one per cluster, pump log format); Blue Book (fund collection); Violation Register; Private Well Ledger; Water Quality Register; Governance File (minutes, resolutions, CoI declarations). All numbered, dated, signed on first page by President + Secretary.	Secretary · Treasurer (Blue Book)	6 Red Books + 1 of each other register. All held by Secretary except Red Books (one per Jal Bandhu) and Blue Book (Treasurer).	Month 1, Week 3
F4	Post AWAS Public Board — At Panchayat building, school, or prominent location. First postings: AWAS directory with contacts · current supply schedule + stress level · bank account details · complaint procedure summary. Updated by Secretary after every monthly meeting.	Secretary (content) · Panchayat (board space)	Active public board with first set of notices posted and dated.	Month 1, Week 4

11.2 Phase 1 — Jal Bandhu Training: Month 1–2

Minimum 2-day training for all 6 Jal Bandhus before active duties. Secretary keeps attendance register; all must sign on completion.

Module	Content	Duration	Trainer	Completion Test
1 · Why Water Governance?	156% extraction in plain terms (withdraw ₹156 for every ₹100 earned — account empties). Water table −6 cm/year visualised. Kanti vs neighbouring villages that abandoned Kharif. Jal Bandhu as the person who protects the aquifer for the next generation.	2 h	President / research team	Each JB explains the aquifer crisis to a farmer in their own words
2 · Daily / Weekly / Monthly Duties	Walk through Sec 2.3 duty tabs. Hands-on Red Book practice (fictional pump event + supply shortfall). Monthly water level reading from JJM logbook. Fund collection: how to issue receipt, handle refusal, hand to Treasurer with Blue Book entry.	3 h	Secretary + Treasurer (fund module)	Sample Red Book page + Blue Book entry filled correctly. Take-home: laminated duty card.
3 · Supply Schedule & Complaint Response	Supply schedule (Sec 3.1) slot by slot. Stress/Crisis checklist (Sec 3.2). Verbal warning role-play: one JB = farmer running pump during domestic band; other issues warning. What to log, what not to promise. Escalation path to Secretary.	2 h	VP (leads role-play)	Correctly identify stress trigger + issue verbal warning in role-play
4 · Irrigation Schedule & Stage-Based Pumping	Crop calendar (Sec 4.2) on wall — each wheat/mustard stage explained. What CRI and Grain Filling look like in the field. How to track hours per farmer per stage in Red Book. Kharif monitoring: log pump events during power window.	3 h	Secretary + BAO/HAU ATMA if available	Name all 5 wheat + 3 mustard stages. Crop calendar posted in cluster.
5 · Scarcity Protocol & Emergency Response	L1–L4 decision tree: "Borewell running longer?" → L1. "Stops completely?" → L2. "Two borewells dry?" → L3/L4. Tanker Register (Sec 3.6a): who to call, in order. How to set up a tanker collection point.	2 h	President	Correct scarcity level for 3 scenario prompts. Tanker number saved in phone.
6 · Grievances & Accountability	Complaint types (Sec 3.5) and timelines. Sec 2.3a: what to do if someone complains about the Jal Bandhu themselves — role-play referral to VP. Removal grounds. Conflict of interest declaration.	1.5 h	VP	4-tier complaint path recalled. Signed acknowledgement of accountability rules.

~13.5 h total · 2-day back-to-back session · Half-day refresher at Month 6 · Late joiners trained individually by Secretary before assuming duties.

11.3 Phase 2 — Farmer Crop Water Budgeting Workshop: Month 2–3

Must happen before Rabi sowing (before November). Repeated annually. Held cluster-by-cluster (6 sessions) or in 2–3 groups. Facilitator: Secretary + Jagrukta Dal + BAO/HAU ATMA officer (invite 3 weeks in advance). Attendance logged by JB; missed farmers briefed individually within 14 days. Separate 2-hour Kharif workshop in May each year.

Part	Content	Duration	Materials
1 · Your Well's Numbers	Farmers call out daily pump hours → facilitator writes: 8 h × 180 days = 1,440 h/year. Wheat actually needs ~50 h. Gap = 1,390 h wasted. Show current 29.03 MCM extraction vs safe yield 18.57 MCM (Extraction Index, Sec 8–9).	45 min	Whiteboard · Extraction Index poster · Calculator
2 · The Stage-Based Schedule	Crop calendar timeline (Nov–Mar) with each stage marked. Why irrigation at critical stages maximises yield; why outside-stage irrigation is largely wasted. Key message: you are timing correctly, not cutting — yield will not fall. Show irrigation calculator (Sec 8–9) for 1, 2, 5 acre farms.	60 min	Crop calendar poster · HAU Hisar trial data · Calculator printout
3 · What If We Don't Change?	Water table at −6 cm/year: "How many years to 500 ft?" (500 ft = ₹6.2 lakh solo drilling). Well Cost Savings Calculator (Sec 6) for shared wells. Name neighbouring villages in Mahendragarh that have already abandoned double-cropping.	30 min	Water table graph · Well cost data · Neighbouring village examples
4 · Power Windows — Practical How-To	Explain Windows A and B (Sec 4.1). Farmers calculate their own stage dates using DAS table and their planned sowing date. Stage allocation tracked by Jal Bandhu in Red Book — farmer stops when hours consumed.	45 min	DAS table printout · Blank calendars · Patwari sowing register
5 · Rules, Sanctions & Open Q&A	Domestic band times posted on board. Sanction ladder (Sec 3.2, 4.5): 1st = verbal warning, 2nd = ₹500. Open discussion: "Does anyone think this is unfair?" Record concerns for Core Committee. Close: "Your Jal Bandhu is here to help, not punish."	30 min	Sanction ladder poster · Open Q&A

11.4 Phase 3 — Fund Launch & Community Mobilisation: Month 2–4

Step	Action	Who	Timeline	Success Indicator
FL1	Cluster introduction meetings: Jagrukta Dal holds a 45-min meeting per cluster. Agenda: explain Jal Kosh purpose + what it fixes first (valves, pump repairs); show fund projection; collect first contributions on the spot. Target: ≥50 HH per cluster at first meeting.	VP + Jagrukta Dal · Jal Bandhu (hosts + collects)	Month 2–3	≥300 HH contribute in Month 1
FL2	Hardship exemption process: Treasurer sets up BPL application form (written). Secretary maintains confidential exemption register; approved exemptions noted in Blue Book without public naming.	Treasurer (approvals) · Secretary (register)	Month 2	Register exists; ≥1 BPL HH formally exempted in first quarter
FL3	First visible fund use — valve installation: Within 60 days of launch, install stop-valves on highest-priority public taps (identified by JB survey Month 1). Post receipt + installation record on public board. This is the most powerful trust-building action in Year 1.	Treasurer (approves) · Rakhraav Dal (installs) · JB (announces)	Month 3–4	≥10 public tap valves installed; receipts posted publicly
FL4	Apply to Atal Bhujal for co-financing: Formal application to Atal Bhujal district coordinator, Mahendragarh, attaching: Gram Sabha resolution, bank account, water level register, SDG baseline, fund ledger.	Secretary (prepares) · President (signs)	Month 4	Application submitted and acknowledged

11.5 Phase 4 — Monitoring System Activation: Month 1–3

System	Setup Action	Who	First Reading
Red Book logging	Daily pump logging from Day 1. Format: date · start time · stop time · observations. Secretary reviews first 2 weeks for format compliance.	JB (daily) · Secretary (review)	Day 1
Monthly water level reading	JB on rotation copies JJM boosting station logbook on 1st of month. Secretary declares stress level within 48 h (Sec 3.3 decision hierarchy).	JB rotation · Secretary	1st of Month 2
Pumping compliance tracking	Secretary compiles weekly Red Book summaries from all 6 clusters; flags any cluster below 80% for committee review.	Secretary · Core Committee	End of Month 1
Private Well Ledger	JB surveys each cluster: well depth, pump HP, approximate Rabi pump hours per farmer. Target: 100% of wells by Dec 2026.	JB (surveys) · Secretary (ledger)	Dec 2026
Water Quality Register	Secretary requests latest PHED water quality data (TDS, Fluoride, Nitrate, Bacteria) from PHED Narnaul. If TDS >2,000 on any borewell, formal complaint letter drafted immediately. Updated bi-annually (April + October).	Secretary	Month 2
Village SDG Scorecard	Secretary compiles baseline data from CGWB, surveys, Red Books; prepares first public scorecard for AWAS board + Atal Bhujal submission.	Secretary	Month 3

11.6 Year 1 Milestone Timeline

Month	Key Milestones	Success Criteria
1	Gram Sabha resolution · Bank account · Registers · Public board · JB training begins	Resolution signed · Account on public board · 6 Red Books in use
2	JB training complete · Cluster collection meetings · First contributions · First water level reading	All 6 JBs signed off · ≥300 HH contributing · Stress level declared
3	Farmer crop water workshops (all clusters) · First valve installation	6 workshops done · ≥10 valves installed · Receipts on public board
4	Atal Bhujal application · Private well survey begins · First monthly meeting	Application submitted · Survey ≥50% clusters · Minutes recorded
6	JB refresher training · Fund participation review · First quarterly audit	≥400 HH contributing · Audit report posted
9	Kharif farmer workshop · Kharif monitoring active · Well survey ≥80%	Workshop in all clusters · Kharif Red Books running
12	Annual Gram Sabha · SDG scorecard presented · Year 2 plan approved · FEFLOW update if available	Scorecard posted · ≥60% participation (960 HH) · Amendments tabled if needed
18	Private Well Ledger complete · Valve compliance review · 2nd bi-annual water quality request	All wells registered · ≥80% public tap valve compliance · PHED data updated

Assumes adoption March–April 2026; dates shift proportionally if delayed. Core Committee reviews progress at every monthly meeting. Secretary maintains a RAG-status implementation sheet on the AWAS public board.