20 Women Power Jaipur’s ‘Pink Circle’ Water Supply System
A group of around 20 women engineers and staff members is ensuring the daily supply of drinking water for more than 3.6 lakh residents across 23 wards of Jaipur, highlighting a unique example of women-led public service in urban infrastructure management.
The team operates under the Malviya Nagar division of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), which was designated as a “Pink Circle” in October 2022. Under this initiative, all key roles—from executive engineer to field and support staff—are held by women. Leading the division is executive engineer Bhawana Meena, who oversees the operation and maintenance of water infrastructure in the area. The team is responsible for ensuring the supply of drinking water sourced from the Bisalpur Dam, which is a major water source for Jaipur and surrounding regions.
Beyond routine water distribution, the team handles multiple operational responsibilities including granting new water connections, maintaining pipelines and other infrastructure, monitoring illegal connections, checking the use of unauthorised booster pumps in households, and collecting water dues. These duties require regular field inspections across neighbourhoods and constant monitoring of the distribution network. Officials say the work often extends beyond normal office hours. During scheduled water supply times—frequently early in the morning or late at night—team members conduct field visits to ensure that pipelines and pumping systems are functioning smoothly. This hands-on approach helps address complaints quickly and prevents disruptions in water supply across the wards under their jurisdiction.
The Malviya Nagar PHED office itself reflects the initiative’s symbolic identity. Its walls are painted pink—a colour associated with both the historic architecture of Jaipur, popularly known as the “Pink City,” and the idea of women’s leadership in public administration. Urban governance experts say the initiative demonstrates how gender-inclusive staffing can strengthen civic service delivery. In cities facing rising water demand and infrastructure challenges, such teams play a crucial role in maintaining reliable distribution systems while responding quickly to technical and administrative issues.
With Jaipur’s population exceeding three million and demand for water steadily increasing, officials say efficient management of supply networks remains essential. The success of the Malviya Nagar “Pink Circle” highlights how a small but dedicated workforce can sustain essential urban services for hundreds of thousands of residents.
