A two-day hands-on training on Field Testing Kit (FTK) for grassroots level workers was held in Wokha District on 11 and 12 October. The training was conducted by the District Water and Sanitization Mission (DWSM) PHED Wokha Division as part of the ongoing ‘Swachh Jal Se Suraksha’ (SJSS) campaign which is taking place from 2 October 2022 to 26 January 2023.

The two-day training was held at three strategic locations under Sanis block, Wokha District: Sanis Town Hall, Pangti Community Hall and Baghty Town Hall.

Participants with DWSM PHED Wokha officials at Sanis Town Hall, Wokha on 11 October.

Participants with DWSM PHED Wokha officials at Pangti Community Hall, Wokha on 12 October.

The objective of the campaign is to ensure the supply of safe drinking water through regular water quality monitoring and surveillance by including all the stakeholders.

The participants of the Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance training included village council members, WATSAN committee, Swachhagrahis, ASHA and Anganwadi workers.

District Chemist Er Aremo highlighted the issues of water quality and ways of water contamination and also gave a demonstration on the use of FTK.

The FTK, provided to the users, covers the detection of eight parameters (physical and chemical) namely Ph, Turbidity, Total Harness, Chloride, Free chlorine, Fluoride, Nitrate and Iron. H2S vials for the detection of bacteriological contamination were also distributed to the trainees.

Participants learned how to monitor water quality through the Field Testing Kit and H2S vials.

The FTK trainees were reminded and also made aware of their responsibility to carry out the surveillance duty as per the JJM, GoI Guidelines.

District Coordinator Chuba Longchar highlighted water-borne diseases, health effects and safe handling and storage of drinking water.