The Government of India has planned to escalate its water conservation initiatives under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan during the upcoming monsoon season. This move aims to fortify water source reliability in rural locations and bolster the ongoing Jal Jeevan Mission conducted by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Overview of Jal Shakti Abhiyan
Conceived and launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2019, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan focuses on water conservation and water security across India. It acts as a collaborative effort involving numerous central government ministries and state administrations.
The campaign primarily targets water stressed districts and blocks. The core water preservation interventions under the project include water conservation and rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks, the reuse of water and recharging of structures, watershed development, and intensive afforestation.
In the preceding year, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan covered 256 water-stressed districts throughout the country. Over seventy-five lakh traditional and other water bodies and tanks were revitalized, and about a crore water conservation & rainwater harvesting structures were established.
Jal Jeevan Mission: An Initiative For Water Security
The Jal Jeevan Mission, another initiative led by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, aspires to ensure that every household in rural India has access to piped water. This program is a redesigned and absorbed version of the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP).
Renamed as the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the initiative pledges to provide a Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural home, aligning with the Har Ghar Nal Se Jal (HGNSJ) vision.
Water Conservation Efforts Under Jal Jeevan Mission
The Jal Jeevan Mission involves numerous water conservation efforts. Point recharge, desilting of minor irrigation tanks, use of greywater (wastewater from sinks and kitchens) for agriculture, and source sustainability are among the key strategies in this mission.
Implemented with a community-based approach to water, the initiative aims to encourage the maximum participation of communities. The Prime Minister has even appealed to all states to generate a ‘Jan Andolan’ or a public movement to attain the target of functional household tap connection by 2024.
