Jal Jeevan Samvad 2021 PDF
Note from the desk of Additional Secretary & Mission Director
India witnesses once again an unprecedented number of Covid cases. The only way forward in this battle is to wear masks, maintain physical distance, stay home and stay safe. National Jal Jeevan Mission wishes everyone and their loved ones a safe time ahead. Let’s help each other to defeat the virus.
Jal Jeevan Mission to ensure safe drinking water supply to every rural household – a noble and life changing mission is proving how it is bringing qualitative changes in the lives of scores of people living in our villages. Its impact especially on women and children is being felt everywhere. It is becoming a people’s movement – Jan Andolan, wherein various stakeholders have joined hands with the commitment to improve the lives of people.
After the announcement of the mission on 15th August, 2019 by Hon’ble Prime Minister from the Red Fort and release of the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission on 25th December, 2019, despite Covid -19 pandemic, by end of 2020-21, about 4.08 Crore rural households have been provided with new tap water connections.
Thus, now tap water supply is reaching to about 7.30 Crore rural households i.e. more than 38% of rural homes of the country. This shows the commitment of all the States/ UTs to deliver on ‘speed and scale’ even during the time of adversity. Indeed, it is a matter of satisfaction, despite various challenges, we all have been able to mobilize people to carry out exemplary work in 2020-21.
Every rural home in Goa, Telangana and Andaman & Nicobar Islands has started getting clean tap water supply. Jal Jeevan Mission works in other States/ UTs is going on in full swing as they are competing with each other to outperform others. The teams implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission in the field has imbibed the true spirit of the mission and are ensuring that ‘no one is left out’ in villages with piped water supply systems. As a result, all households in 58 districts, 713 Blocks and about 87 thousand villages, have started getting assured potable tap water supply on regular basis. The public health engineering teams on the ground along with partners like Gram Panchayats, ISAs, SHGs, UNICEF and others deserve compliments.
We have entered into the most crucial phase of the mission. The budgetary allocation for JJM has seen a quantum jump from Rs 11,500 Crore in 2020-21 to Rs 50,000 Crore in 2021-22, which shows the priority being accorded by the Union Government to provide this basic facility of safe drinking water in every home. With this huge allocation, States/ UTs need to make a realistic plan for provision of FHTCs with proper expenditure plan for effective utilization of funds. Discussion on Annual Actton Plan for 2021-22 is underway to deliberate and finalize the saturation plan for the States/ UTs along with various support activities to ensure drinking water security in rural areas. Each State/ UT has prepared their Annual Action Plan (2021-22), which are being presented and discussed before finalization.
With Government’s undivided focus on water supply and improved sanitation, 15th Finance Commission allocated 60% of Rs. 26,940 Crore grants to RLBs in 2021-22 for supply of drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling; and sanitation and maintenance of ODF status. This will supplement the ongoing efforts of adequate water for all. We must make all out efforts for judicious use of this grant by rural local bodies by focusing on various activities viz. rain water harvesting, strengthening of drinking water sources, improving water supply, grey water management and regular operation & maintenance.
NJJM has taken up a massive capacity building exercise and 126 Key Resource Centres (KRCs) have been identified. And they are going to prepare their Annual Calendars of activities to build the capacities of different stakeholders at different level in rural drinking water sector.
Similarly, about 180 reputed organizations have been selected as sector partners to work with NJJM and States/ UTs for dovetailing resources and efforts to achieve the goal of Jal Jeevan Mission – Har Ghar Jal.
When the nation was recovering from the after-effects of Covid-19 pandemic, in last few days, we are witnessing a sudden spike of Covid cases in last few days, which has badly affected the whole country, jeopardising the lives of people, affecting the normalcy, etc. In these challenging times, efforts to be made for saving precious human lives and in the same time, provision of drinking water through household tap connections becomes all the more important, so that women and young girls do not have to go to distance to fetch water for the family and avoid crowding at public stand posts.
Public Health Engineering Departments/ Rural Water Supply Departments of the States/ UTs have done commendable works during last year amidst the pandemic. National Jal Jeevan Mission expects that good works done to continue in the prevailing situation while taking all precautionary measures. This will help in PHE/ RWS departments as public service departments focusing on ‘service delivery’. States/ UTs must pool all resources and efforts for provision of drinking water in the water-scarce areas, so that people especially women need not to struggle to fetch water for their families.
NJJM hopes the States/ UTs, PRIs, ISAs, sector partners, UN agencies, KRCs and other stakeholders will continue with the good works being done so far and work with more enthusiasm in 2021-22 to accomplish the planned activities to ensure ‘Har Ghar Jal’.
[Bharat Lal]
Additional Secretary & Mission Director
National Jal Jeevan Mission
| INFORMATION OF PDF FILE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD | |
| Title of PDF File | Jal Jeevan Samvad 2021 PDF |
| Language of PDF File | English |
| Size of PDF File | 19.7 MB |
| No of Pages in PDF File | 26 |