JAL JEEVAN MISSION
WHY IN NEWS?
- Since its launch in August 2019, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has achieved 32.3% coverage of tap connections in rural India.
KEY POINTS
- In partnership with the States, the scheme seeks to ensure that every rural household of the country gets assured drinking water supply by 2024.
- As of now, 6.15 crore (32.3%) households of the country are getting tap water supply into their homes. Almost 1 lakh new connections are getting added on daily basis.
- The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories.
- To ensure its implementation without any funding crunch, in 2020-21, a sum of Rs. 23,500 crore has been allocated for the implementation of the JJM. Besides this, in 2020-21, 50% of 15th Finance Commission Grants to Rural Local Bodies, that is, Rs. 30,375 crore as a tied grant, will be utilised for water supply and sanitation.
- The Mission is set to be based on various water conservation efforts like point recharge, desilting of minor irrigation tanks, use of greywater for agriculture and source sustainability.
- Mission will converge with other Central and State Government Schemes to achieve its objectives of sustainable water supply management across the country.
SIGNIFICANCE
- India has 18% of the world population, but only 4% of freshwater resources. Depleting groundwater level, overexploitation and deteriorating water quality, climate change, etc. are major challenges to provide potable drinking water.
- This can generate employment to the currently unemployed force, especially in the context of reverse migration.
- It will increase ‘ease of living’ in rural areas.
WAY FORWARD
- An extensive information, education and communication will be needed to create a people’s movement for water management.
- The ongoing Jal Shakti Abhiyan will help in creating awareness about the importance of integrating source sustainability and water reuse.
- This integrated approach to decentralised, community managed, and sustainable water management is the backbone of the government’s plan to ensure that every household gets the benefits of water supply.