The Union Territory of Puducherry has proudly become the fourth State/Union Territory, following Goa, Telangana and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, to ensure tap water supply to every rural home as part of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Furthermore, Punjab and the Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu have also achieved the landmark of giving 75% of their rural homes access to assured tap water supply.
The Jal Jeevan Mission Explained
The Jal Jeevan Mission, underneath the Ministry of Jal Shakti, has a vision of supplying 55 litres of water per person per day to each rural household via Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024. This mission is heavily focused on managing water demand and supply at a local level.
Creation of Local Infrastructure
Core elements of JJM include the development of local infrastructure for source sustainability measures such as rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and reuse of household wastewater management. These projects are facilitated in collaboration with other government schemes and programmes.
Prioritizing Water Supply
As part of its strategic approach, the mission prioritizes providing FHTCs in areas affected by poor water quality, villages located in drought-prone or desert regions, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages and similar regions. In addition, it focuses on providing functional tap connections to public buildings like Schools, Anganwadi centres, Gram Panchayat buildings, Health and wellness centres, and community buildings.
Dealing With Water Contamination
The Jal Jeevan Mission employs technological interventions to remove contaminants in regions where water quality is a concern, ensuring safe water supply for all.
Community Involvement and Funding
JJM heavily relies on a community-based approach, involving extensive Information, Education and Communication as key part of the initiative. It aims to create a “jan andolan” for water, making water conservation a priority for everyone. The mission is funded through a distribution pattern where the Centre and states share the cost – 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern states, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories. The total allocation for this scheme exceeds Rs. 3 lakh crore.
Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban)
In the 2021-22 Budget, the Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) was launched under the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry. This initiative aims to provide functional taps supplying water to all households in statutory towns, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal- 6 (Clean water and sanitation).
The objectives of this mission are securing tap and sewer connections, rejuvenating water bodies, and fostering a circular water economy. The achievement of these goals would significantly contribute to ensuring sustainable access to clean water and adequate sanitation facilities.
Source: PIB