Over 5 cr tap water connections provided since announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission; PM Modi to interact with Pani Samitis tomorrow

New Delhi, Oct 1: In a huge development, more than five Crore families have been provided with tap water connections in their homes since the announcement of the Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019. "Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, its subsequent lockdowns and challenges, the states and union territories worked relentlessly to ensure assured tap water supply to rural homes," the Ministry of Jal Shakti said in a statement.

 

 

It should be noted that Jal Jeevan Mission was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15th August, 2019 to provide functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every home by 2024. The government said that assured tap water supply in homes relieves people, especially women and young girls, from fetching water, carrying heavy loads at a distance, etc. thus, reducing their age-old drudgery. The newfound time is being used for income generation activities, learning new skills, supporting children’s education, etc.

 

In 2019, out of about 18.93 crore households in rural areas, only 3.23 Crore (17%) had tap water connections. Thus, now 15.70 crore households are to be provided with tap water by 2024. In addition, functionality of all existing water supply systems and tap connections is also to be ensured. The programme directly benefits more than 19 crore rural families, bridging rural – urban divide and improving public health. As on date, about 8.26 crore (43%) rural households have tap water supply in their homes.

 

 

The motto of Jal Jeevan Mission is that ‘no one is left out.’ Every rural household in 78 districts, and 1.16 lakh villages is getting tap water supply. With focus on health and well-being of children, last year on Gandhi Jayanti, a campaign was launched to provide tap water connections to all schools, Anganwadi centers and ashram shalas (tribal residential schools) for drinking, cooking mid-day meal, hand washing and use in toilets. As on date, tap water supply has been provided in 7.72 lakh (76%) schools and 7.48 lakh (67.5%) anganwadi centres.

 

Honouring Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of ‘Gram Swaraj’, this Gandhi Jayanti, i.e. 2nd October, 2021, a special Gram Sabha is being convened across the length and breadth of the country to discuss and deliberate on issues related to drinking water in their villages in a move to attain ‘WASH Prabudh Gaon’.

 

On this occasion, PM Modi will address about 3.3 lakh Village Water & Sanitation Committees/ Pani Samitis. This interaction with the Prime Minister will boost the energy of the community and local leaders who worked throughout the pandemic and during lockdown ensuring tap water reached every household. As part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and to help in developing a responsive and responsible leadership to make village a WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) enlightened village, this Samvad intends to go a long way to bring vision of Gram Swaraj into a reality.

 

 

During the address, PM Modi will also release a progress report of Jal Jeevan mission, a manual for the utilization of 15th Finance Commission tied grant for RLBs/ PRIs and framework for Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance (WQMS). He will also launch Jal Jeevan Mission App that can be used by all stakeholders, and Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Kosh. Any individual, institution, corporate, or philanthropist, in India or abroad, can contribute to help provide tap water connection in every rural household, school, anganwadi centre, ashramshala, panchayat, primary healthcare centre, etc.