PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 18 -- More than 7,600 women across Prayagraj district are playing a pivotal role in ensuring safe drinking water for rural households, having successfully tested over 34,700 water samples under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The initiative, which leverages the efforts of "Jal Sakhis" and Sujalam Shakti groups, has strengthened community-level monitoring of water sources while providing additional income for rural women, said officials. According to Dharmendra Kumar, executive engineer, Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural), Prayagraj, the project has evolved in phases. In the initial stage, 17,289 women were trained across 2,685 revenue villages, with five participants per village. Currently, these groups are responsible for ongoing village-level quality monitoring. Operating as Jal Sakhis, these women collect samples from functional household tap connections, schools, anganwadis and health centres. They utilise Field Test Kits (FTKs) to check for parameters such as iron, nitrate, and chloride, adhering to the Indian Standard IS 10500:2012. Each participant receives an honorarium of Rs.20 per sample tested. Beyond technical testing, the Jal Sakhis act as community educators, promoting water conservation and rainwater harvesting. For local participants, the program has provided both economic and social value. Damini Saroj, 36, a resident of Khakhaicha village in the Pratappur block, reported that her involvement has brought both recognition and additional income. She noted that her efforts, which include surveying household tap connections and recording data, have helped expand access to potable water in her village, where 76% of households now receive a steady supply. Similar efforts are reported in the Handia block, where participants like 30-year-old Nisha continue to educate residents on safe water practices....