25 jan Providing clean water

providing clean water 

At the heart of the Jal Jeevan Mission lies a commitment to strengthening the socio-economic fabric of rural communities 

जल्jeevan mission का फ़ायदा

१ In the hilly village of Kyarkuli Bhatta in Uttarakhand, there is no mass migration anymore. 

२ The tribal hamlet of Kusumdih in Jharkhand has seen a reduction in human-animal conflicts. 

३ And in Chandpur village in Maharashtra, weddings are being celebrated with pomp and show again. 

This is because there is tap water in all these regions, provided by the Jal Jeevan Mission.

 १ Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission has already provided tap water to 73% of rural households. 

२ This means that more than 14 crore rural households have tap connections compared to only 3.23 crore in August 2019. 

४ Through the Mission, guided by the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas’, India is rapidly advancing towards the realisation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation for all).

We embarked on this journey with the objective of providing piped water in adequate quantities and of prescribed quality on a regular and long-term basis to every rural household in India. We wanted to ensure that no one had to face water scarcity and its consequences on health, hygiene, and well-being. At the national level, we focused on strengthening infrastructure, which was a big challenge because of the diverse terrains and geographical differences in India. We brought together communities, development partners, and NGOs.

Benefits of the scheme

We realised that there cannot be a one-size-fits-all arrangement. Every region has different needs. But with the core theme of ‘no one is left behind,’ the Jal Jeevan Mission dealt with different kinds of challenges. Insulated pipes were used in hilly and cold regions. In villages with water quality issues, multi- village schemes through bulk water transfer were planned. Community water purification plants were provided to meet drinking and cooking water needs for the short term.

The growth story of the Jal Jeevan Mission is not confined to data; changes can be seen on the ground. Its impact has extended beyond the provision of clean water; it encompasses a broader commitment to the safety, health, and environment of rural communities.

Various studies have been conducted on the Jal Jeevan Mission, its implementation, and impact. Nobel Laureate Dr. Michael Kremer’s study states that providing safe water can reduce infant deaths by almost 30%, with the potential to prevent 25% of under-five deaths in India (1,36,000 child deaths annually). A study conducted in the financial year 2023-24 by the World Health Organization states that 4 lakh diarrhoeal deaths can be averted if tap water is provided in every household. The Jal Jeevan Mission can lead to economic savings of up to $101 billion or ₹8.37 lakh crore.

At the heart of the Jal Jeevan Mission lies a commitment to strengthening the socio-economic fabric of rural communities. It recognises the fact that true development is not just about infrastructure; it is about bringing in a sense of community. The active involvement of women in decision-making processes, the empowerment of the youth through skill development, and the creation of local water enterprises are not isolated initiatives but systematic steps strengthening communities. The Nal Jal Mitra initiative, for instance, is a specialised programme which equips villagers with a comprehensive set of skills so that they are able to carry out minor repairs and maintenance of the piped water supply scheme in their village. Over 5.29 lakh village water and sanitation committees/ Pani Samitis have been constituted under the Jal Jeevan Mission and 5.17 lakh village action plans have been developed. About 22.98 lakh women have been trained for testing water samples using field testing kits.

A recent study, ‘Assessment of Employment Potential of Jal Jeevan Mission’, states that the Mission’s employment generation potential during the construction phase is on average 59.93 lakh person-years of direct employment and 2.22 crore person-years of indirect employment and 11.18 lakh person-years of additional direct employment annually during the operation and maintenance stage.

Transparency and efficiency

The Jal Jeevan Mission has a dashboard that gives real-time updates, progress reports, and so on, ensuring transparency and efficiency in water resource management. It also ensures continuous monitoring and surveillance of water quality parameters through advanced technologies. The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation maintains a proactive Water Quality Management Information System. This helps detect contamination or deterioration in water quality, thereby enabling prompt corrective action and grievance redress.

As of now, there are 2,113 labs in India. Water quality testing labs of States/Union Territories are now open to the public for testing water samples at nominal rates. In 2023-24, more than 46.62 lakh water samples have been tested in laboratories which are digitised in the Water Quality Management Information System.

With the Jal Jeevan Mission, we have crossed new milestones and delivered water to millions across India. Our road map for the future is to create a situation where water scarcity is a thing of the past and no rural household suffers the lack of this elixir of life. We are also engaging our people to take care of the water assets that have been created. We are on the right track to achieve our drinking water targets. Resources are in place to implement our objectives. The outlook for the year is positive.