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New Delhi : Union Government’s flagship programme, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), is under implementation in partnership with States since August, 2019, with an aim to provide tap water connection to every rural household off the country by 2024. The mission has captured imagination of the whole country through its achievement in terms of provision of clean drinking water in rural homes thereby improving their lives. While announcing the mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed all to make ‘water everyone’s business.’
Not only has the life changing Jal Jeevan Mission caught the attention of the common people; in the recently concluded Budget Session of the Parliament, issues related to Jal Shakti Ministry especially JJM also got huge attention of MPs. Considering the important role the Members of Parliament can play in the implementation of JJM, the Jal Shakti Ministry has issued advisory to all the States/ UTs, to conside suggestions from Members of Parliament as well as encouraging the MPs to discuss issues related to implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in the District Development Coordination & Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting for time-bound completion of works, according to a PIB release.
The Ministry is ensuring that all sections of the people take part in this life changing mission that aims to provide household tap water connection to every rural home thereby improving their lives and enhancing ease of living.
In the recently concluded Budget Session, ten Starred Questions and 94 Unstarred Questions relating to Jal Jeevan Mission were asked by Members of Parliament in both the Houses. Wide range of questions related to piped water supply in rural households in States/ UTs, implementation of JJM, provision of safe drinking water in water quality-affected areas, sustainability of drinking water sources, functionality of tap water connections, allocation of funds under JJM, etc. were asked. Union Minister of Jal Shakti replied to the starred questions on the floor of both the Houses highlighting the progress of JJM, according to a PIB release.
In Rajya Sabha, two days were allotted for discussions on the working of the Ministry of Jal Shakti. MPs participated in the debate and Jal Jeevan Mission received wide support in the house. Replying to various issues raised by different Members of Parliament, Union Minister of Jal Shakti not only explained the functioning of the Ministry but also emphasised the broad contour of works/ initiatives of the ministry, which are under implementation especially Jal Jeevan Mission – Har Ghar Jal, Atal Bhujal Yojana – participatory groundwater management; Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for assured irrigation to more farm land; Namami Gange for rejuvenation of river Ganga; Swachh Bharat Mission (G) 2.0 to keep our villages open–defecation free and clean, etc. Broad vision of the Union Government to make the country water secure were explained in detail, so that water becomes an enabler in faster socio-economic development.
In the month of March during break of the session, Parliamentary Standing Committee scrutinised the performance of Jal Jeevan Mission. In its report tabled in the Parliament, the Standing Committee appreciated the effort being made under the mission and also gave a number of recommendations. The budget for Jal Jeevan Mission in 2021-22 has been increased to Rs 50,011 Crore from Rs 11,000 Crore in 2020-21. In addition, funds for water supply are also coming from 15th Finance Commission tied grants to RLB/ PRIs for water & sanitation, matching State share and externally aided projects. Thus in 2021-22, more than Rs 1 lakh crore is planned to be invested in the country on ensuring tap water supply to rural homes.
At the announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 3.23 Crore (17%) rural households were getting tap water supply on their premises but during the last one and half years, more than 4 Crore new tap water connections have been provided in villages/ rural areas, as a result today about 7.30Crore rural households (38%) are having tap water supply. This is the speed and scale, with which the mission is working to change the lives of people living in rural areas.
To bring in transparency and make information available to citizen, Ministry of Jal Shakti has developed JJM dashboard wherein the online progress of implementation and status of tap water supply in homes has been put in public domain. The JJM dashboard not only provides detailed information of the country but one can see the status of implementation and progress at State/ UT level, district level and village level. Information related to water supply in villages including names of the head of households who have got tap water connection, status of water supply in schools and anganwadi centres including piped water in toilets and hand washing facilities along with provision of rain water harvesting and grey water use are also provided.