A Gujarat-Inspired Water Governance Model

Gist India is leveraging its successful transition from an infrastructure-heavy approach to a governance-led water management model to offer scalable lessons for the Global South. Showcased at the recent India International Water Week, this strategy scales reforms incubated in Gujarat to a national level, focusing on climate resilience, community participation, and treating used water as an economic asset. For aspirants, this highlights a critical shift in public policy where institutional capacity and circular water economies are prioritised over mere engineering solutions to achieve national water security. Background Historically, water security in developing nations has been treated primarily as an engineering and infrastructure challenge building dams, pipelines, and canals . Between 2001 and 2014 , Gujarat served as a laboratory for reforming this approach, shifting the focus towards decentralised governance, community ownership, and integrated resource management. Post- 2014 , this governance-first model was scaled nationally across India through flagship initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission and the Jal Jeevan Mission JJM . The current global framework is guided by Sustainable Development Goal 6 SDG 6 —ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation…