Jal Jeevan Mission was launched on 15th August 2019 with an aim to provide every rural household with functional household tap connections (FHTCs) by 2024. This mission will improve the lives of rural people, especially girls by reducing their drudgery. Under JJM, funds are provided by the Government of India based on the output in terms of FHTCs provided and the utilization of available central and matching state share.
Progress of the mission
- In Orissa, in 2019-20, against the target of 15.61 lakh, only 4.37 lakh (27.97%) households were provided with tap connections in the state. This resulted in low utilization of funds. Odisha was allocated Rs 364.74 crore in 2019-20, of which the state could only utilise Rs 275.02 crore.
- In Tripura, out of 8.01 lakh households in the State, only 7.63% households have been provided with tap connections. In 2019-20, against the target of 1.66 lakh households, the State provided only 45,769 household tap connections.
- In 2019-20, the State was allocated with Rs 107.64 Crore and the entire amount was released along with an additional incentive fund of Rs 37.73 Crore. However, the State could utilize only Rs 59.45 Crore of central funds.
- In 2019-20, Maharashtra State provided tap connections to 5.45 lakh households as against the target of 16.26 lakh tap connections.
Way forward
States have to focus on augmentation and retrofitting of existing piped water supply systems, by which 100% saturation of villages can be done in the least possible time. Also, priority should be given on saturating villages in water scarce areas and aspirational districts, SC/ ST dominant villages& villages under Sansad Adarsh Gramin Yojana.
It has been further emphasized that local village community/ gram panchayats need to be involved in planning, implementation, management, operation and maintenance of water supply systems in villages to ensure long-term sustainability to achieve drinking water security. In all villages, the IEC campaign along with community mobilization needs to be taken up to make the mission truly a people’s movement.
Source: PIB, Economic Times
