Shashank Shekhar
Ranchi (Jharkhand) : In the background of the discussions held at the mid-year review of planning and implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JMM) in Jharkhand to provide tap water connections to all the households, a National Jal Jeevan Mission team is visiting the State from December 2 to 5, 2020, to see the implementation at the ground level and extend technical assistance to expedite the implementation with a focus on prudent investment. During its four-day tour of Jharkhand, teams of 2 members each will visit 4-5 villages daily in the districts depending on the feasibility.
The team will interact with the Gram Panchayats/Village Water & Sanitation Committees, local community,and Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) officials as well and will see the community participation and institutional arrangements made for the implementation of the mission to provide assured water supply to rural homes. Also, the team will interact with the respective District Collectors and Chairperson of District Water and Sanitation Mission and debrief Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, at the State headquarters. The teams are visiting different villages in Ranchi, Hazaribagh, and Gumla Districts.
In 2020-21, the Centre has allocated Rs 572.23 Crore to Jharkhand. Further, the 15th Finance Commission has also allocated Rs 1,689 Crore to the State, 50% of which will be spent mandatorily by Panchayati Raj Institutions on provision of safe water and improved sanitation. In addition to this, the State plans to efficiently utilise other available resources like MGNREGS fund, Swaccha Bharat Mission (Gramin) Fund, District Mineral Development Fund, MP and MLA-LAD funds, etc.for dovetailing of funds at village level for carrying out water conservation activities leading to the strengthening of water sources, water supply works, grey water management, operation and maintenance works, and subsequently drinking water security.
Central Govt’s flagship programme, Jal Jeevan Mission is under implementation in partnership with States to provide functional household tap water connection to every rural household of the country by 2024. It envisage to supply potable water of 55 litres per person per day to every rural household on regular and long-term basis. Jharkhand State is planning 100% household coverage by 2023-24.
States/ UTs to involve local village community/ Gram Panchayats or user groups in planning, implementation, management, operation and maintenance of water supply systems in villages to ensure long-term sustainability, said a PIB release. In all villages, IEC campaign along with community mobilisation has been taken up to make JJM, truly a people’s movement.