The Indian government’s ambitious ‘Har Ghar Jal’ initiative, a key component of the Jal Jeevan Mission, aims to provide potable water connections to all rural households in India by 2024. However, recent survey reports suggest that the initiative may fall short of its target, with a significant number of households still awaiting connections.
Current Status and Challenges
According to survey reports, only 5% of the total households targeted under the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ initiative have received connections. Out of nearly 19.5 crore households, approximately one crore households have not even begun work on water connections. This indicates a significant gap in the implementation of the scheme.
Certification Process and Discrepancies
To verify the progress of water connections, a system of ‘certification’ is in place. Gram panchayats, along with district and block level authorities, report fully connected villages and upload video evidence to confirm the authenticity of the claim. However, only 58,357 villages have been certified out of the nearly 1,68,000 villages reported to have achieved ‘Har Ghar Jal’ status. This suggests a wide gap between reported and verified connections, indicating a need for greater scrutiny and monitoring.
Achieving the Objective of Functional Tap Connections
The objective of the Jal Jeevan Mission is to provide ‘functional’ tap connections that supply at least 55 litres of potable water per person per day. Data on the Jal Shakti Ministry portal shows that approximately 63% of rural households have tap connections, benefiting around 9.1 crore households since the launch of the program in 2019. However, there is still a long way to go in reaching the target of providing tap connections to all households.
State Disparities in Implementation
The implementation of the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ initiative varies across states. In Uttar Pradesh, for example, only 5.1 lakh households, or 1%, reported having tap connections when the scheme was launched. On the other hand, states like Punjab (99.9%), Himachal Pradesh (97.2%), and Bihar (96%) are making significant progress towards fulfilling the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ motto. These disparities highlight the need for focused efforts and targeted interventions to bridge the gap between states.
Jal Jeevan Mission: Objectives and Strategies
The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019, aims to provide 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024. It operates under the Jal Shakti Ministry and seeks to create a people’s movement for water, making it a priority for all. The funding ratio is shared between the central and state governments, with different ratios based on the geographical location. The mission focuses on community-based approaches, emphasizing information, education, and communication. Additionally, it emphasizes source sustainability measures such as water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and greywater management.
