Jal Jeevan Mission | General Awareness for SSC CGL PDF Download

Introduction

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched on August 15, 2019, by the Government of India, is a flagship initiative aimed at providing safe and adequate drinking water through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to every rural household in India by 2024. The mission seeks to ensure sustainable water supply management, improve public health, and enhance the quality of life, particularly for women and children, by reducing the burden of fetching water. Implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, JJM aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and integrates with other schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission and MGNREGA for holistic rural development.

Objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission

1. Universal Access to Drinking Water: Provide piped water supply to every rural household through individual tap connections.
2. Safe and Adequate Water: Ensure potable water (55 liters per capita per day) that meets quality standards.
3. Sustainability: Promote sustainable water supply systems through community participation and source conservation.
4. Public Health Improvement: Reduce waterborne diseases by providing clean and safe drinking water.
5. Women Empowerment: Alleviate the drudgery of women and children in fetching water, enabling time for education and economic activities.
6. Equity and Inclusion: Prioritize marginalized communities, including SC/ST, tribal areas, and aspirational districts.

Key Features of Jal Jeevan Mission

Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC):

• Aim to provide tap water connections to 19 crore rural households by 2024.
• Focus on regular and assured water supply of 55 liters per capita per day (lpcd) meeting BIS:10500 standards.

Target Beneficiaries:

• All rural households across India, with priority to water-scarce, drought-prone, and tribal regions.
• Special focus on aspirational districts, SC/ST-majority villages, and Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana villages.

Funding:

• Total estimated cost: ₹3.6 lakh crore, with a 50:50 funding split between Central and State Governments (90:10 for North-Eastern states and Himalayan regions).
• Community contributions (5-10%) in cash, kind, or labor for ownership and maintenance.
• Convergence with MGNREGA, 15th Finance Commission grants, and CSR funds for additional resources.

Community Participation:

• Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs)/Pani Samitis: Formed in villages to plan, implement, and maintain water supply systems.
• At least 50% women representation in VWSCs to promote gender inclusion.
• Community-led Operation and Maintenance (O&M) for sustainability.

Water Quality:

• Regular testing of water sources through field testing kits and accredited laboratories.
• Establishment of Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Systems.
• Focus on addressing contamination issues like arsenic, fluoride, and iron in water sources.

Sustainable Water Sources:

• Emphasis on groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, and watershed management.
• Use of technologies like solar-powered pumps and IoT-based water monitoring systems.
• Greywater management and reuse to reduce water wastage.

Technology Integration:

• JJM Dashboard for real-time monitoring of FHTC progress and water supply status.
• IoT-enabled sensors for tracking water quality and supply efficiency.
• Mobile apps and GIS mapping for planning and monitoring water infrastructure.

Convergence with Other Schemes:

• Integration with Swachh Bharat Mission for sanitation and greywater management.
• Collaboration with MGNREGA for labor and infrastructure works.
• Linkages with PMAY and Ujjwala Yojana for holistic rural development.

Training and Capacity Building:

• Training of VWSC members, local youth, and women in water management and maintenance.
• Skill development programs for plumbers, pump operators, and water quality testers.
• Over 5 lakh women trained as “Jal Sahiyas” for water quality testing.

Focus on Public Institutions:

• Provision of tap water connections to schools, Anganwadi centers, health centers, and Gram Panchayat buildings.
• 100-day campaigns to ensure water supply in public institutions.

Implementation Structure

Central Level:

• The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, oversees JJM.
• National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJMM) coordinates policy, funding, and monitoring.
• Technical support through the National Centre for Drinking Water, Sanitation, and Quality.

State Level:

• State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) develops state-specific action plans.
• Coordinates with districts for implementation and resource allocation.

District Level:

• District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) oversees planning, execution, and monitoring.
• Ensures convergence with local schemes and community participation.

Village Level:

• Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) plan and manage water supply systems.
• Gram Panchayats and local communities drive implementation and maintenance.

Private Sector and NGOs:

• Collaboration with NGOs for awareness and capacity building.
• Private sector involvement in technology solutions and infrastructure development.

Key Achievements of Jal Jeevan Mission

Tap Water Connections:

• Over 15 crore rural households (78% of the target) provided with FHTC as of 2023.
• 11 states and 3 Union Territories achieved 100% FHTC coverage, including Goa, Telangana, and Haryana.

Water Supply Coverage:

• Increased rural household tap water coverage from 17% (3.2 crore households in 2019) to over 78% (15 crore households) by 2023.
• Over 1.5 lakh villages declared “Har Ghar Jal” (every household with tap water).

Public Institutions:

• Over 8 lakh schools and 9 lakh Anganwadi centers provided with tap water connections.
• Improved water access in rural health centers and Gram Panchayat buildings.

Health Impact:

• Reduced waterborne diseases like diarrhea and typhoid due to access to safe drinking water.
• Improved maternal and child health outcomes through better hygiene.

Women Empowerment:

• Freed women and girls from the burden of fetching water, saving time for education and livelihoods.
• Women-led VWSCs empowered in over 5 lakh villages.

Water Quality Management:

• Over 2,000 water testing laboratories established, including mobile labs.
• Over 20 lakh women trained for water quality testing and surveillance.

Challenges of Jal Jeevan Mission

Sustainability of Water Sources:

• Depleting groundwater levels and overexploitation in water-scarce regions.
• Challenges in ensuring year-round water availability in drought-prone areas.

Maintenance of Infrastructure:

• Lack of community capacity for Operation and Maintenance in some villages.
• Insufficient funding for long-term upkeep of water supply systems.

Water Quality Issues:

• Contamination from arsenic, fluoride, and nitrates in groundwater in states like Bihar, Rajasthan, and West Bengal.
• Limited access to advanced water treatment technologies in rural areas.

Implementation Delays:

• Slow progress in hilly, tribal, and remote areas due to logistical challenges.
• Delays in funding disbursal and coordination between Central and State Governments.

Community Engagement:

• Resistance to community contributions (cash/kind) in some areas.
• Limited awareness about water conservation and maintenance responsibilities.

Regional Disparities:

• Uneven progress across states, with North-Eastern and desert regions lagging.
• Challenges in providing FHTC in sparsely populated or geographically challenging areas.

Recent Developments and Initiatives

Har Ghar Jal Certification:

• Villages certified as “Har Ghar Jal” after achieving 100% FHTC coverage.
• Over 1.5 lakh villages certified as of 2023.

Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0:

• Focus on sustainability, water quality, and greywater management post-2024.
• Emphasis on retrofitting existing water supply systems for efficiency.

Technology Adoption:

• IoT-based water monitoring systems piloted in over 1,000 villages.
• Solar-powered water pumps installed in remote areas for cost-effective supply.

100-Day Campaigns:

• Special drives to provide tap water to schools, Anganwadi centers, and health facilities.
• Accelerated FHTC coverage in aspirational districts.

Convergence with Other Schemes:

• Integration with Swachh Bharat Mission for greywater management and sanitation.
• Collaboration with MGNREGA for water infrastructure works and PMAY for household-level integration.

Water Conservation Initiatives:

• Promotion of rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge under JJM.
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan campaigns to support water conservation and afforestation.

Impact of Jal Jeevan Mission

Health Impact:

• Reduced incidence of waterborne diseases due to access to safe drinking water.
• Improved hygiene practices, contributing to better public health outcomes.

Social Impact:

• Empowered women and girls by reducing time spent fetching water, enabling education and economic activities.
• Enhanced community participation through VWSCs and women-led initiatives.

Economic Impact:

• Created jobs through water infrastructure projects and skill training for plumbers and technicians.
• Reduced healthcare costs due to fewer water-related illnesses.

Environmental Impact:

• Promoted sustainable water management through source conservation and greywater reuse.
• Reduced groundwater depletion through rainwater harvesting initiatives.

Equity Impact:

• Improved access to water in marginalized and tribal communities.
• Narrowed urban-rural disparities in water access.

Monitoring and Evaluation

JJM Dashboard:

• Real-time tracking of FHTC coverage, water quality, and village-level progress.
• Monitors state and district-level performance.

Third-Party Verification:

• Independent agencies verify FHTC functionality and water quality.
• Social audits by VWSCs and Gram Panchayats for transparency.

Grievance Redressal:

• Toll-free helplines (1916) and JJM mobile app for reporting issues.
• District-level grievance committees for quick resolution.

Water Quality Monitoring:

• Regular testing through field kits and laboratories.
• Community involvement in surveillance through trained “Jal Sahiyas.”

Conclusion

Jal Jeevan Mission has been a transformative initiative in providing safe and sustainable drinking water to rural India, significantly improving public health, women’s empowerment, and quality of life. By achieving over 78% FHTC coverage and engaging communities in water management, JJM has made remarkable progress toward its goal of “Har Ghar Jal” by 2024. Despite challenges like water source sustainability and regional disparities, the mission’s focus on technology, community participation, and convergence with other schemes is driving its success. JJM continues to pave the way for a water-secure and equitable India, aligning with global sustainable development goals.