Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Recognising the key role Members of Parliament/ elected representatives can play in mobilising the local community and empowering them to ensure assured piped water supply in rural homes, provisions have been made in the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission to enable their participation to make Jal Jeevan Mission – Har Ghar Jal, a ‘Jan Andolan’. The National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) issued an advisory to States elaborating on the roles the Members of Parliament can play in achieving the goal of the Mission.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is being implemented in partnership with States to provide functional tap water connection to every rural home by 2024. JJM is a decentralised, demand-driven and community-managed programme with the Gram Panchayat and/ or its sub-committee, i.e. Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/ Pani Samiti/ User Group, etc. playing a key role in planning, implementation, management, operation, and maintenance of in-village water supply systems. The Mission envisions to empower Gram Panchayat and/ or its sub-committee, i.e. VWSC/ Pani Samiti to function as a ‘local water utility’ that focuses on water supply service delivery, according to a PIB release.
Every village has to prepare a 5-year Village Action Plan (VAP) co-terminus with 15th Finance Commission by dovetailing all resources available under various schemes/ programmes at the village e.g. MGNREGS, 15th FC grants for PRIs, JJM, SBM(G), and other sources like District Mineral Development Fund (DMDF), CSR Fund, MP/ MLA Local Area Development Funds, public contributions, etc.
Starting with involvement of MPs in District Water &Sanitation Mission (DWSM), which includes review of progress of JJM in districts; promote community engagement and participation; prioritise convergence with MPLAD funds and other centrally sponsored scheme funds; resolution of bottlenecks in implementation of schemes; and overall to ensure that implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission – Har Ghar Jal is being done in accordance with provisions of the Operational Guidelines of the mission, so that every rural household gets assured potable tap water on regular and long-term basis.
MPs are already nominated as Co-Chairperson of the District Level District Development Coordination & Monitoring Committee (DISHA) of the Ministry of Rural Development. Their inputs/ suggestions would be considered while finalising the District Action Plan (DAP) for 100% coverage for provision of drinking water in all rural households of the districts in their constituencies.
Further, before declaring any district as’ Har Ghar Jal’ district, i.e. districts with tap water supply in every rural home, Members of Parliament whose constituencies are part of the district would be consulted so that ‘no one is left out’.
As envisaged in the programme, Village Action Plan (VAP) for five years co-terminus with 15th Finance Commission period is to be prepared for each village with active involvement of local community. The VAP will be prepared by the Gram Panchayat/ VWSC/ Pani Samiti with the help from RWS/ PHE department and implementation support agencies (ISAs). The VAP is the document to ensure long-term sustainability of water sources and systems in villages.
To bring in ‘sense of ownership’ and pride among rural communities, under Jal Jeevan Mission, there is a provision of 5% capital cost contribution in form of cash and/ or kind and/ or labour towards in-village water supply infrastructure in hilly, forested, and more than 50% SC/ ST population dominant villages, and 10% capital cost of the in-village infrastructure in remaining villages.
Considering the importance of water and sanitation in rural areas, 15th Finance Commission has identified water supply and sanitation as priority areas and accordingly, for rural local bodies, in 2020-21, Rs 30,375 Crore ‘tied-grant’ has been allocated for a.) supply of drinking water, rain water harvesting and water recycling; and b.) sanitation and maintenance of open-defecation free (ODF) status, in villages. States/ UTs have firmed up their timelines for 100% coverage of households with tap water connections