Drinking Water in Every Home by 2024
Himachal Pradesh and Assam are among the states that are well on track to achieve the target of providing clean tap water supply to every rural home by 2024 and the Central government is providing full assistance to the State to achieve the goal, according to Smt. Vini Mahajan, Secretary DDWS.
The work is being done in accordance with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet schems of “Har Ghar Jal” and “Swachh Bharat Mission”.
Jal Jeevan Mission is a decentralized, demand-driven, community-managed water supply scheme which aims at improving the lives of rural people by providing clean tap water supply to every home.
In implementing this scheme , time-to-time campaigns are launched which help in community engagement and sensitization of public on judicious use of water and its conservation to ensure its regular supply with adequate pressure.
Smt. Mahajan says that “While the districts have self-declared themselves Open Defecation Free, but this is not a one-time effort. Efforts under the programme are being made to bring about social and behaviour change for sustainability of the ODF status of villages at all times.”
By now, Himachal Pradesh has provided 100% tap water connection in school and anganwadis. “It will help in reducing water-borne ailments among children as safe water is provided to children for drinking and for cooking mid-day meal to the school administration. Providing water in learning centres enables hand-washing and toilet usage which is so important during ongoing pandemic,” Mahajan adds.
According to Ram Saubhag Singh, Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh, “good progress has been made by the state as it ranks 8th in the country to provision tap connection in rural household. Efforts will be made to provide remaining tap water connections within few months.”
Shri Singh said, “At the time of announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission on 15th August, 2019, only 7.62 lakh (44.19%) households out of total 17.27 lakh households in the State had access to tap water supply. In about 28 months, 8.25 lakh households have been provided with clean tap water. The achievement made by the State is noteworthy because of Covid-19, lockdowns and difficult terrain.”
Similarly, in Assam, at the announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission on 15th August, 2019, only 1.11 lakh (1.76%) households out of total 63.35 lakh households in the State had access to tap water supply. In about 28 months, 17.46 lakh households have been provided with clean tap water. In last six months alone, clean tap water supply has been provided to more than 8.5 lakh households.
According to Shri Jishnu Barua, Chief Secretary, Assam, “good progress has been made if we look at the point from where we started with just 1% tap water coverage in the biggest north-eastern state. We progressed well in the last six months. As the State started on a low base it took time to streamline the procedure for implementation of the programme. Now the remaining work will be carried out expeditiously.”
Working in line with ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas’, Jal Jeevan Mission’s motto is ‘no one is left out’ and it aims at universal access to potable tap water supply. At the start of the mission in 2019, out of a total of 19.20 Crore rural households in the country, only 3.23 Crore (17%) had tap water supply. Despite Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns disruptions, Jal Jeevan Mission has been implemented with speed and during the last 28 months, 5.59 Crore rural households have been provided with tap water supply.
Presently, 8.83 Crore (45.88%) rural homes across the country have tap water supply. States of Goa, Telangana, Haryana and UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry, D&NH and D&D have ensured 100% household tap connection in rural areas. At present, every household in 90 districts and more than 1.31 lakh villages are receiving tap water supply in their homes.
