Jal Jeevan MissionTruly Becoming A People’s Movement, Garners Huge Interest Among MPs During Budget Session of Parliament

Union Government’s flagship programme, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is under implementation in partnership with States since August, 2019 with an aim to provide tap water connection to every rural household off the country by 2024. The mission has captured imagination of the whole country through its achievement in terms of provision of clean drinking water in rural homes, thereby improving their lives. While announcing the mission, Prime Minister had Shri Narendra Modi appealed allto make ‘water everyone’s business.’The mission is working with various stakeholders to make it truly a people’s movement. Apart from States, JJM is partnering with various agencies, organizations to make this mission a ‘Jan Andolan’ – people’s movement.

Not only has the life changing Jal Jeevan Mission caughtthe attention of the common people; in the recently concluded Budget Session of the Parliament, issues related to Jal Shakti Ministry especially JJM has also got huge attention of MPs. Considering the important role of the Members of Parliament can play in the implementation of JJM, theministry of Jal Shakti has issued advisory to all the States/ UTs, thereby considering suggestions from Members of Parliament as well as encouraging the MPs to discuss issues related to implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in the District Development Coordination & Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting for time-bound completion of works. Ministry is ensuring that all sections of the people take part in this life changing mission that aims to provide household tap water connection to every rural home, thereby improving their lives and enhancing ease of living.

In the eight sittings of the recently concludedBudget Session commenced on 4^th February 2021 and lasted till 25^th March 2021, ten (10) Starred Questions and ninety-four (94) Unstarred Questions relating to Jal Jeevan Missionwere asked by variousMembers of Parliament in both the Houses. Wide range ofquestions related to piped water supply in rural households in States/ UTs,implementation of JJM, provision of safe drinking water in water quality-affected areas, sustainability of drinking water sources, functionality of tap water connections, allocation of funds under JJM, etc. were asked. Union Minister of Jal Shakti has replied to the starred questions on the floor of both the Houses highlighting the progress of JJM.

Reply by the Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to the discussion on working of Ministry of Jal Shakti in Rajya Sabha

 Rajya Sabha, two days were allotted for discussions on the working of the Ministry of Jal Shakti. MPs participated in the debate and Jal Jeevan Mission received wide support in the house. Replying to various issues raised by different Members of Parliament, Union Minister of Jal Shakti not only explained the functioning of the Ministry but also emphasized the broadcontour of works/ initiatives of the ministry, which are under implementation especiallyJal Jeevan Mission – Har Ghar Jal, Atal Bhujal Yojana – participatory groundwater management; Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for assured irrigation to more farm land; NamamiGange for rejuvenation of river Ganga; Swachh Bharat Mission (G) 2.0 to keep our villages open–defecation free and clean, etc.Broad visionof the Union Government to make the country water securewere explained in detail, so that water becomes an enabler in faster socio-economic development.

In this period, Consultative Committee of the Parliament attached to Ministry of Jal Shakti also met under the chairmanship of Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and the committee members were briefed about the progress of implementation and status of tap water supply in rural homes. Minister of State Shri Rattan Lal Kataria spoke about how under the mission each and every family in villages is being provided tap water connection to ensure tap water in every home.

In the month of March during break of the session, Parliamentary Standing Committee also scrutinized the performance of Jal Jeevan Mission. In its report tabled in the Parliament, the Standing Committee appreciated the effort being made under the mission and also gave a number of recommendations. The budget for Jal Jeevan Mission in 2021-22 has been increased to Rs. 50,011 Crore from 11,000 Crore in 2020-21. In addition, funds for water supply are also coming from 15^th Finance Commission tied grants to RLB/ PRIs for water & sanitation, matching State share and externally aided projects. Thus in 2021-22, more than Rs. 1 lakh crore is planned to invested in the country on ensuring tap water supply to rural homes.

At the announcement of Jal Jeevan Missionin August 2019, only 3.23 Crore (17%) rural households were getting tap water supply in their premises, and during the last one and half years, more than 4 Crore new tap water connections have been provided in villages/ rural areas,as a result today about7.30Crore rural households (38%) are having tap water supply. This is the speed and scale, with which the mission is working to change the lives of people living in rural areas.

To bring in transparency and make information available to citizen, Ministry of Jal Shakti has developed JJM dashboard wherein the online progress of implementation and status of tap water supply in homes has been put in public domain. The JJM dashboard not only provides detailed information of the country but one can see the status of implementation and progress at State/ UT level, district level and village level. Information related to water supply in villages including names of the head of households who have got tap water connection, status of water supply in schools and anganwadi centres including piped water in toilets and hand washing facilities along with provision of rain water harvesting and grey water use are also provided. The dashboard also provides information about institutional arrangements like people managing various aspects of water supply in villages including water quality testing. The JJM dashboard also shows the ‘sensor based IoT pilot project going on different villages which shows the status of daily water supply in terms of quantity, quality and regularity. In these pilots one can see the quality of water including chlorination, water pressure in pipes at different places and per capita supply on daily basis. This dashboard can be accessed at https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx

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