The article explores the recent developments in India’s comprehensive water provision program, ‘Har Ghar Jal,’ as part of the Jal Jeevan Mission. New certifications for Goa and union territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu make them the first to ensure every household has safe drinking water from taps. The article discusses in detail the operations, initiatives, and aims of the mission toward sustainable water supply across rural India.
The ‘Har Ghar Jal’ Certification: A Milestone for Goa and Union Territories
The comprehensive program ‘Har Ghar Jal,’ which ensures that every home receives access to tap water, recently saw Goa and the union territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu receive their certification. These regions have become the first state and union territories, respectively, to achieve this landmark. The achievement was possible due to resolutions passed by the Gram Sabha, which confirms that every household in the villages has access to safe drinking water through tap connections. Moreover, 378 villages of Goa and 96 villages of D&NH and D&D have constituted their Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC) or Paani Samiti, responsible for maintaining and repairing the water supply infrastructure developed under ‘Har Ghar Jal’ program.
Understanding the Jal Jeevan Mission
The Jal Jeevan Mission is an initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, a division of the central government. This ambitious project intends to make piped water available to every household in India by 2024. The program is designed to lay an emphasis on source sustainability measures such as gray water management, water conservation, and rainwater harvesting.
The Jal Jeevan mission is a community approach to water, meaning it plans to involve the community in its initiatives. As part of this strategy, information, education, and communication are key elements. The mission also involves creating a sense of responsibility among the people, making water everyone’s priority.
The Har Ghar Nal Se Jal Programme
Announced in 2019-2020 by the Finance Minister, the Har Ghar Nal Se Jal programme is a crucial part of the Jal Jeevan Mission. This program aims to implement source sustainability measures, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation, and rainwater harvesting.
Mission Objectives and Goals
The Jal Jeevan Mission has several key objectives aimed at improving rural water supply. Firstly, it aims to provide each rural household with a Functional Tap Connection (FHTC) by 2024. It plans to prioritize places with quality-affected areas, villages in drought-prone and desert areas, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages, among others.
In addition to household connections, the mission also targets communal buildings like schools, Anganwadi centers, GP buildings, Health centers, wellness centers, and other community buildings. Moreover, local community engagement is emphasized with the promotion of contributions in cash, kind, and labor.
Note on Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban)
The Budget 2021-22 announced the Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. This mission aims to provide universal coverage of water supply to all households through functional taps in all statutory towns in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal- 6.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)
The information provided can be linked to previous year questions of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. For instance, a question from the 2020 prelims asked about India’s groundwater condition, which closely relates to the mission’s objective of water sustainability. Meanwhile, a question from the 2019 mains asked about regional differences in water stress, which ties back to the mission’s focus on prioritizing water supply to drought-prone and quality affected areas.