Analysis Of Sansad TV Discussion: ”Jal Jeevan Mission”

Relevance

”GS 2: Government Policies & Interventions”

Context

With the help of Jal Jeevan Mission, in Goa, Haryana, Telangana, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Dadar & Nagar Haveli And Daman & Diu, every rural household has been provided tap water supply.

Background

• Announced in 2019, Jal Jeevan Mission (JIM) is a huge step in improving the quality of life in villages and improving public health.
• It is envisaged that by 2024, each household will have a potable tap-water supply in adequate quantity (55 lpcd) of prescribed quality (BIS: 10,500) on a regular and long-term basis.

Objectives of the JJM

• To provide Functional Tap Connection(FHTC) to every rural household by 2024 and water in adequate quantity of prescribed quality is made available on regular basis.
• To prioritize the provision of FHTCs in quality affected areas, villages in drought-prone and desert areas, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages, etc.
• To provide functional tap connection to Schools, Anganwadi centres, GP buildings, Health centres, wellness centres and community buildings.
• To promote and ensure voluntary ownership among local community by way of contribution in cash, kind and/ or labour and voluntary labour (shramdaan).
• To assist in ensuring sustainability of water supply system, i.e. water source, water supply infrastructure, and funds for regular O&M
• To empower and develop human resource in the sector such that the demands of construction, plumbing, electrical, water quality management, water treatment, catchment protection, O&M, etc. are taken care of in short and long term.
• To bring awareness on various aspects and significance of safe drinking water and involvement of stakeholders in manner that make water everyone’s business.

How JJM is different from previous water supply programmes?

• In a paradigm shift from earlier water supply programmes, Jal Jeevan Mission focuses on water service delivery and not just building water supply infrastructure.
• The motto of the Jal Jeevan Mission is ‘no one is left out’, thus ensuring every household irrespective of its socio-economic status, gets tap water supply.
• Jal Jeevan Mission strives for the freedom of mothers and sisters from centuries-old drudgery of fetching water for households and improving their health, education and socio-economic condition.
• The Mission is bringing ‘ease of living and adding pride and dignity to rural families.
• Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, quality-affected villages, Aspirational districts, SC/ST majority villages, water-scarce areas and Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojna (SAGY) villages are prioritized for providing tap water supply.

Bottom-Up Approach

• Jal Jeevan Mission is a ‘bottom up’ approach where community plays a vital role from planning to implementation, management, operation and maintenance.
• To achieve this, Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/ Pani Samiti are being constituted and strengthened; Village Action Plan are developed through community engagement; Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs) are engaged to support village communities in programme implementation and create awareness among people.

JJM & Gram Swaraj?

• Following the principles of Gandhiji’s ‘Gram Swaraj’, under Jal Jeevan Mission, local village community/ Gram Panchayats or sub-committee i.e. Village Water & Sanitation Committee/ Paani Samiti/ user groups having 10 – 15 members with 50% women are to be involved in planning, implementation, management, operation and maintenance of water supply systems to ensure long-term sustainability to achieve drinking water security.
• This is what was envisaged in the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution. The local community will not be at the mercy of any other outside agency.

Way Forward

• With the active participation of people especially women, and rural communities working together, Jal Jeevan Mission has become a Jan Andolan.
• For long term drinking water security, local communities and Gram Panchayats are coming forward and taking responsibility to manage in village water supply systems, their water resources and grey water.
• Jal Jeevan Mission is on track to fulfill the Government’s resolve to provide tap water supply to every rural household by 2024.

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