05 Apr 2023 Jal Jeevan Mission

Jal Jeevan Mission

This article covers “Daily current events “and the topic is about the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ which is in news, it covers “Polity and Governance” In GS-2; the following content has relevance for UPSC.

For Prelims: Jal Jeevan Mission

For Mains: GS-2, Polity and Governance

Why in news: The country crossed another milestone in the journey towards ‘Har Ghar Jal’ on 4th April 2023, with over 11.66 crores (60%) of rural households provided with tap water supply in their homes.

Jal Jeevan Mission

About Jal Jeevan Mission

• Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is a flagship program of the Government of India that aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water to every household in rural areas of the country. The mission was launched in 2019 and has a target to provide tap water connection to all rural households by 2024.

The main objectives 

• To provide functional household tap connections (FHTCs) to every rural household.
• To ensure that every household has access to potable water in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on a regular basis.
• To provide long-term solutions for water security through a comprehensive planning process.
• Under this mission, the government plans to use a community-based approach to ensure the sustainability of water supply systems. The mission also aims to create awareness among the rural population about the importance of water conservation and management.
• The Jal Jeevan Mission is expected to bring significant improvements in the lives of rural people by reducing the drudgery of women and girls, who are traditionally responsible for fetching water from distant sources and improving their health and hygiene.

Present status of Jal Jeevan Mission

• As of April 2023, the Jal Jeevan Mission has made significant progress toward its goal of providing tap water connections to all rural households in India.
• According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, as of March 2023, around 77% of rural households have been provided with tap water connections, which translates to around 17.54 crore households.
• The implementation of the mission has been a collaborative effort between various government departments, NGOs, and local communities.
• The mission has also witnessed the adoption of innovative technologies and approaches such as greywater management, the rejuvenation of traditional water bodies, and the use of solar pumps to ensure sustainable and long-term solutions for water security.

However, there are still several challenges that need to be addressed, such as inadequate water supply infrastructure in remote and hilly areas, insufficient funds for the mission, and issues related to the quality and reliability of the water supply.

Challenges in Jal Jeevan Mission

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) faces several challenges in its implementation, some of which are:

• Inadequate Water Infrastructure: Rural areas in India have the limited infrastructure for water supply, which often lacks the capacity to provide safe and adequate drinking water to all households. This results in a lack of access to water supply infrastructure in remote and hilly areas, leading to uneven coverage and inequitable access to the water supply.
• Insufficient Funds: The JJM is a massive program that requires a significant amount of funding to implement effectively. The funds allocated for the program may not be adequate, leading to inadequate infrastructure and slow progress in providing tap water connections to rural households.
• Quality and Reliability of Water Supply: There are concerns about the quality and reliability of the water supply in some areas, which may hinder the uptake of the mission. The water sources in rural areas may be contaminated with pollutants, which pose health risks to the population.
• Capacity Building: The mission requires significant capacity building at the community level to ensure the sustainability of water supply systems. This involves training local communities in the operation and maintenance of water supply infrastructure, as well as the promotion of water conservation and management.
• Behavioral Change: Changing the behavior of rural communities towards the use and management of water is critical for the success of the mission. This requires creating awareness about the importance of water conservation and management, as well as promoting the use of water-efficient technologies and practices.

Government Initiatives to overcome challenges in Jal Jeevan Mission

The Government of India has taken several initiatives to overcome the challenges faced by the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and ensure its successful implementation. Some of these initiatives are:

• Leveraging Technology: The government is leveraging technology to improve the efficiency of water supply systems and ensure the sustainability of water resources. The use of technologies such as GIS mapping, remote sensing, and mobile applications is helping in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of water supply infrastructure.
• Capacity Building: The government is investing in capacity building at the community level to ensure the sustainability of water supply systems. This involves training local communities in the operation and maintenance of water supply infrastructure, as well as promoting water conservation and management practices.
• Community Participation: The government is promoting community participation in the Jal Jeevan Mission through the formation of water user committees, which are responsible for the management and operation of water supply infrastructure. This ensures the ownership of the infrastructure by the local communities, which leads to the sustainability of water supply systems.
• Innovative Financing Models: The government is exploring innovative financing models such as public-private partnerships, community-led financing, and credit-linked subsidies to mobilize funds for the mission and ensure its timely implementation.
• Inter-departmental Coordination: The Jal Jeevan Mission involves the participation of several government departments, such as the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, and Health and Family Welfare. The government is ensuring inter-departmental coordination to ensure the smooth implementation of the mission.
• Behavioral Change: The government is promoting behavioral change among rural communities toward the use and management of water. This involves creating awareness about the importance of water conservation and management, as well as promoting the use of water-efficient technologies and practices.
• Innovation and Research: The government is encouraging innovation and research in the water sector to find solutions to the challenges faced by the Jal Jeevan Mission. This includes the development of new technologies and practices for water conservation, management, and supply.

These initiatives are expected to help overcome the challenges faced by the Jal Jeevan Mission and ensure its successful implementation, leading to the provision of safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households in India.

Additional Information

Role of Anganwadi in Jal Jeevan Mission

Anganwadi workers are the primary point of contact for rural communities, and they play a crucial role in:

• Creating Awareness: Anganwadi workers create awareness about the importance of safe drinking water and hygiene practices among rural communities. They can educate people about the harmful effects of consuming contaminated water and the benefits of using clean drinking water for their health.
• Behavioral Change: Anganwadi workers promote behavioral change towards water conservation and management. They can teach households to adopt practices such as rainwater harvesting, efficient use of water, and proper maintenance of water sources.
• Water Testing: There are now 2,078 water testing labs. In 2022-23, 1.03 billion water samples were studied. Anganwadi workers support the testing of water sources for quality parameters such as pH, turbidity, and fluoride content. They can ensure that the water sources meet the quality standards set by the government.
• Community Mobilization: Anganwadi workers mobilize communities to participate in the JJM. They can encourage the formation of water user committees and support their capacity building.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Anganwadi workers can monitor the implementation of the JJM in their respective areas and provide feedback to the government. They can report any issues related to the provision of safe drinking water, and ensure timely action is taken to address them.

In summary, Anganwadi centers and workers play a vital role in promoting the JJM by creating awareness, promoting behavioral change, supporting water testing, mobilizing communities, and monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the mission.

Source:

• Hindustantimes

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saurabh kaushik