The Role of Government in the Localisation of SDG 6 in India: Policies, Practices, and Pathways

This study addresses the key role of India government in localising sustainable Development goal 6 (SDG 6), which focuses on the role of ensuring the availability of water and the sustainable management of water and sanitation to everyone. India being a nation with huge socioeconomic inequalities, environmental issues, and a population in the process of rapid urbanisation is a complex landscape on which SDG 6 could be implemented. This paper is the critical evaluation of policies (including the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)) that investigate how international goals are converted into local one. It also examines the processes of governance and the institutions as well as technological interventions that allow the delivery of services at the local level. The paper establishes some major practices that influence the implementation process of localisation that is decentralised governance, community engagement, and public-private partnerships. Yet, it also demonstrates a number of serious challenges, such as the lack of infrastructure, insufficiency of its institutional capacity, resistance provided by socio-cultural barriers, and the lack of information. Patrons block balanced access and sustainability in water and sanitation services over time. In a bid to solve these problems, the paper focuses on a future look like approach which focuses on integrated planning, institutional strengthening, inclusive policies as well as technological innovation. Enhancing multi-stakeholder collaboration is also marked as the key in strengthening the results and accountability. Aggregating policy study and on-the-ground implementation realities, the study creates a deep insight into the possibilities of bridging the gap between the global, SDG expectations and local, sustainable achievements in India. The results show that he role of government action, at national, state, and local levels, is a key element of guiding India to SDG 6 attainment.