Weekly Current Affairs (8th to 14th June 2023) Part - 2 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Centre Sets Minimum Support Price for Kharif Crops

Context: The Indian government has approved the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for kharif crops for the 2023-24 season, aiming to provide fair remuneration to farmers.

• However, concerns have been raised by farmers' organisations regarding the increase not keeping up with rising input costs.

What is Minimum Support Price?

• MSP is the guaranteed amount paid to farmers when the government buys their produce.
• Government announces MSPs for 22 mandated crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane.
• The mandated crops are 14 crops of the kharif season, 6 rabi crops and two other commercial crops.
• In addition, the MSPs of toria and de-husked coconut are fixed on the basis of the MSPs of rapeseed/mustard and copra, respectively.
• MSP is based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), which considers various factors such as cost of production, demand and supply, market price trends, inter-crop price parity, etc.
• CACP is an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. It came into existence in January 1965.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister of India takes the final decision (approve) on the level of MSPs.
• The MSP is aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to growers for their produce and encouraging crop diversification.

What are Kharif Crops?

• Kharif crops are the crops that are sown in the rainy season, from June to September.
• Some of the major kharif crops are paddy, maize, millets, pulses, oilseeds, cotton and sugarcane.
• Kharif crops account for about 55% of the total foodgrain production in India.

What is the MSP for Kharif Crops for 2023-24?

• The Centre claimed that the hike in MSP for kharif crops for 2023-24 is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times the All-India weighted average cost of production.
• The MSP has been hiked for all 14 kharif crops in the range of 5.3 to 10.35 %. In absolute terms, it has been increased by Rs 128 to Rs 805 per quintal.
• Green gram (moong) got the highest hike of 10.4% over 2022-23 followed by sesamum that saw an increase of 10.3%.

What are the Concerns of the Farmers?

• Inadequate Cost Consideration: They have pointed out that the cost of production used by the CACP to calculate the MSP(A2+FL costs) does not include all the expenses incurred by the farmers such as rent of land, interest on loans, family labour, etc.
• They have demanded that the MSP should be based on the comprehensive cost of production (C2) as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.

Three Kinds of Production Cost:

• ‘A2’: Covers all paid-out costs directly incurred by the farmer in cash and kind on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, hired labour, leased-in land, fuel, irrigation, etc.
• ‘A2+FL’: Includes A2 plus an imputed value of unpaid family labour.
• ‘C2’: It is a more comprehensive cost that factors in rentals and interest forgone on owned land and fixed capital assets, on top of A2+FL.
• Lack of Market Reflection: They have also argued that the MSP does not reflect the actual market conditions and the inflationary trends.
• They have demanded that the MSP should be linked to the wholesale price index (WPI) or the consumer price index (CPI) to ensure fair returns to the farmers.
• Doubts over Procurement Mechanism: They have also raised doubts over the procurement mechanism and the availability of adequate infrastructure and storage facilities to ensure that the farmers get the MSP for their produce.
• They have alleged that the government often resorts to import or export policies to manipulate the market prices and undermine the MSP.
• Regional Disparities and Crop-Specific Issues: They have also highlighted the regional disparities and crop-specific issues in the implementation of the MSP.
• They have claimed that the MSP benefits only a few crops and a few states, while leaving out many other crops and regions.
• They have demanded that the MSP should be extended to all crops and all states, and that there should be a legal guarantee for the MSP

Way Forward

• Technological Solutions: Implementing advanced technologies like precision agriculture, IoT (Internet of Things), and remote sensing can help optimise crop yields, reduce production costs, and enhance farmers' access to information.
  • Developing mobile applications and platforms that provide real-time market information, weather updates, and best practices to farmers, enabling them to make informed decisions about crop selection and pricing.
• Diversification of Crops: Promoting crop diversification by encouraging farmers to cultivate high-value and climate-resilient crops can reduce their dependence on MSP for traditional crops.
  • Introducing innovative farming practices like organic farming, vertical farming, and hydroponics can help farmers tap into niche markets and earn higher profits.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Facilitating partnerships between the government, private sector, and farmer organisations can create market linkages, enhance value addition, and improve farmers' bargaining power.
  • Collaborative initiatives can include contract farming, agri-logistics infrastructure development, and agro-processing units to ensure a fair and remunerative market for farmers.

Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy have jointly launched a National Mission named “Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research (MAHIR)”.

• The Mission is planned for an initial period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28 and will follow the technology life cycle approach of Idea to Product.

What are the Key Details of the National Mission MAHIR?

Objectives of the Mission:

• To identify emerging technologies and areas of future relevance for the global power sector and develop them indigenously.
• To provide a platform for collective brainstorming and synergetic technology development among power sector stakeholders.
• To support pilot projects of indigenous technologies developed by Indian start-ups and facilitate their commercialization.
• To leverage foreign alliances and partnerships for research and development of advanced technologies and technology transfer.
• To promote scientific and industrial R&D in the power sector and create an innovative ecosystem.
• To position India among the leading countries in power system-related technologies and applications development.

Funding:

• It will be funded by pooling resources from the Ministry of Power, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, and Central Public Sector Enterprises under these ministries.
• Additional funding, if required, will be mobilized from the Government of India's budgetary resources.
• Areas Identified for Research under MAHIR:
  • Alternatives to Lithium-Ion storage batteries
  • Modifying electric cookers/pans to suit Indian cooking methods
  • Green hydrogen for mobility (High Efficiency Fuel Cell)
  • Carbon capture
  • Geo-thermal energy
  • Solid state refrigeration
  • Nano technology for EV battery
  • Indigenous CRGO technology

What is the Structure of the Mission?

Two- Tier Structure:

• It has a two-tier structure consisting of a Technical Scoping Committee and an Apex Committee.

The Apex Committee:

• It deliberates on technology and product development, approves research proposals, and looks into international collaborations.
• The Apex committee will look also into international collaborations. The final approval of all the research proposals / projects shall be given by the Apex Committee.
• It is chaired by the Union Minister for Power & New and Renewable Energy.

Technical Scoping Committee:

• It identifies research areas, recommends potential technologies, and monitors approved research projects.
• It is chaired by the Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority.
• Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Bengaluru will provide all necessary secretarial assistance to the Apex Committee and Technical Scoping Committee.

What is the Scope of the Mission?

• Once research areas are identified and approved, outcome-linked funding proposals will be invited globally.
• Quality cum Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) basis will be used for selecting the proposals.
• Pilot projects of technologies developed by Indian start-ups will be funded, and their commercialization will be facilitated.
• International collaboration and technology transfer will be encouraged.

What is the Significance of the MAHIR?

Indigenous Development:

• By developing advanced technologies within the country, India can reduce its dependence on imports, enhance self-reliance, and promote domestic innovation and manufacturing capabilities.
• It aligns with the "Make in India" initiative and contributes to the growth of indigenous technology-driven industries.

Energy Transition and Net Zero Emissions:

• MAHIR can support the adoption of cleaner and greener energy sources, energy storage solutions, and carbon capture techniques.
• This contributes to India's commitment to combating climate change and transitioning towards a sustainable energy future.

Economic Growth and Manufacturing Hub:

• MAHIR aims to make India a manufacturing hub for advanced power technologies.
• By developing and deploying cutting-edge technologies, it can attract investments, foster innovation-driven industries, and create job opportunities.

World Food Safety Day

Context: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) organised a session on June 7th, 2023, to celebrate World Food Safety Day.

• The 5th State Food Safety Index (SFSI) was also unveiled at the event.

What is World Food Safety Day?

• World Food Safety Day is a global campaign that aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks.
• It is celebrated on 7 June every year since 2019, following a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly.
• The campaign is led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organisations.
• Theme for 2023: Food standards save lives.

What is State Food Safety Index?

• About: FSSAI has developed the State Food Safety Index (first launched in 2018-19) to measure the performance of states on various parameters of Food Safety.
• Parameters: This index is based on performance of State/ UT on five significant parameters, namely, Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.
  • The Index is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative benchmarking model that provides an objective framework for evaluating food safety across all States/UTs.
  • Recognition of Top Performers: Kerala secured the top rank among larger states, followed by Punjab and Tamil Nadu.
  • Goa emerged as the leader among smaller states, with Manipur and Sikkim following suit.
  • Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and Chandigarh secured the top three ranks among union territories.

What are the Other Major Highlights of the Event?

• Eat Right Challenge for Districts - Phase II: Winners of the Eat Right Challenge for Districts were honoured for their outstanding efforts in improving the food environment and raising awareness about food safety.
  • Remarkable achievements were observed in districts from Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

Note: FSSAI has initiated the Eat Right India movement. The movement is based on three key themes:

• if it’s not safe, it’s not food’ (safe food),
• food should not only serve the palate but is also meant for body and mind (healthy diets)
• food has to be good both for people and the planet’ (sustainable diets).
• The Eat Right Challenge is envisioned as a competition among districts and cities to recognize their efforts in adopting and scaling up various initiatives under Eat Right India.
• Eat Right Millets Melas: To commemorate India's 75th Independence anniversary and the International Year of Millets, the FSSAI envisioned organising Eat Right Millets Melas nationwide.
• These melas showcase the diversity of cuisines and millet recipes in the country.
• Training Food Business Operators: FSSAI aims to train 25 lakh food business operators in the next three years to ensure food quality standards are met across the country.
• Food Streets: Establishment of 100 Food Streets across the country that meet quality benchmarks for food safety, hygiene, and nutrition, was announced as the part of the event.
• Rapid Food Testing Kit (RAFT) Portal: The RAFT portal was unveiled as part of FSSAI's digitization efforts.
  • The portal streamlines the operations of the RAFT Scheme, ensuring transparency and accountability.
  • Rapid Analytical Food Testing (RAFT) Kit/Equipment/Method facilitates spot field testing by Food Safety Officers (FSOs) or Mobile Testing Labs or to improve speed and reduce testing costs in food laboratories.
• Manuals for Enhanced Food Safety Practices: The Union Health Minister released three manuals aimed at enhancing food safety practices nationwide.
  • Manuals include the analysis methods for Fish & Fish Products, Cereal and Cereal Products (2nd edition), and Beverages: Tea, Coffee & Chicory.

Why is Food Safety Important?

• Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers.
• According to WHO, an estimated 600 million people – almost 1 in 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food and 420 000 die every year.
• Children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden, with 1,25,000 deaths every year.
• Foodborne diseases can also have long-term consequences, such as malnutrition, stunting, cancer and chronic diseases.
• Food safety is also essential for achieving several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as ending hunger, improving health, reducing poverty and protecting the environment.

What are the Major Challenges Related to Food Safety in India?

• Lack of Infrastructure and Resources: Insufficient infrastructure and resources pose significant challenges in ensuring food safety across the country.
• Limited laboratory facilities and testing capabilities result in inadequate monitoring and detection of contaminants. Inadequate storage and transportation facilities can lead to improper handling of food, increasing the risk of contamination.

Contamination and Adulteration:

• Contamination of food with pathogens, chemicals, and toxins remains a major concern in India. Adulteration of food products with substandard ingredients or harmful substances is prevalent, compromising food safety and public health.
• Unregulated use of pesticides and chemical additives in agriculture and food production contribute to the contamination of food.

Poor Hygiene and Sanitation Practices:

• Lack of proper handwashing, sanitation facilities, and clean water sources in food handling and processing establishments increase the risk of microbial contamination.
• Unhygienic conditions in food markets, street food vendors, and restaurants contribute to the spread of foodborne illnesses.
• Weak Regulatory Framework and Enforcement: Inconsistencies in standards and regulations across different states and regions create challenges in maintaining uniform food safety practices.
• Limited resources and manpower for inspection and enforcement result in inadequate monitoring and control of food safety standards.
• Rapid Urbanization and Changing Food Habits: Rapid urbanisation and changing food habits present challenges in ensuring food safety.
• Increased demand for processed and ready-to-eat foods, as well as street foods, requires robust monitoring and regulation to address safety concerns.

Way Forward

• Strengthening Food Testing Laboratories: There is a need to Establish well-equipped and accredited food testing laboratories across the country, especially in rural areas.
  • These labs should be capable of conducting rapid and accurate tests for various contaminants, including pesticides, heavy metals, and pathogens, ensuring timely identification of unsafe food.
• Empowering Local Communities: There is a need to encourage community participation and awareness by organising workshops, seminars, and interactive sessions on food safety.
  • There is also a need to empower local communities to take ownership of food safety issues and implement solutions at the grassroots level.
• Ensuring Transparency in Food Stock Holdings: Using IT to improve communication channels with farmers can help them to get a better deal for their produce while improving storage houses with the latest technology is equally important to deal with natural disasters and hoarding.
  • Further, foodgrain banks can be deployed at block/village level, from which people may get subsidised food grains against food coupons (that can be provided to Aadhar linked beneficiaries).

Inclusion of Urea in Nutrient-Based Subsidy Regime

Context: In its non-price policy recommendations for the Kharif crops 2023-2024 season, the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has recommended that Urea should be brought under the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) regime to address the problem of imbalanced nutrient usage in agriculture.

• Currently, urea is excluded from the NBS scheme, which has led to disproportionate use and deteriorating soil health.

Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices

• The CACP is a statutory body of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, formed in 1965.
• Currently, the Commission comprises a Chairman, Member Secretary, one Member (Official) and two Members (Non-Official).
• The non-official members are representatives of the farming community and usually have an active association with the farming community.
• It is mandated to recommend Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) to incentivize the cultivators to adopt modern technology and raise productivity and overall grain production.
• CACP submits separate reports recommending prices for Kharif and Rabi seasons.

What is the Need for Urea to be Included under NBS Regime?

Inadequate Supply of Natural Gas:

• Due to inadequate natural gas supplies, the capacity to produce urea fertilizer in India is limited, leading to an increase in imports. These imported urea fertilizers have a higher subsidy burden per tonne compared to domestic urea.
• Additionally, the high global prices of raw materials for complex fertilizers further complicate the government's efforts to contain fertilizer subsidies in the medium-term.
• As a result, the government's efforts to control fertilizer subsidies will face challenges in the medium-term, and subsidy amounts are likely to increase due to rising demand.

Imbalanced Nutrient Usage:

• Over the years, the excessive use of urea in agriculture has contributed to worsening plant nutrient imbalance. Non-urea fertilizers like phosphorus and potassium are covered under the NBS, where subsidies are linked to their nutrient content.
• However, urea remains outside this regime, enabling the government to retain direct control over its maximum retail price (MRP) and subsidy.
• This discrepancy in pricing has led farmers to overuse urea, neglecting other essential nutrients and causing soil health degradation.

Impact of Pricing Policies:

• While the MRP of urea has remained unchanged at Rs 5,360 per metric tonne (MT), the prices of other fertilizers, such as Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) have increased over time.
• The freedom granted to manufacturers of non-urea fertilizers to set MRPs within reasonable limits, along with fixed per-tonne subsidies based on nutrient content, has contributed to their rising prices.
• Consequently, the sales of urea have been significantly higher compared to other fertilizers, exacerbating the nutrient imbalance in agriculture.

What are the Recommendations?

Bringing Urea under the NBS Regime:

• It will enable subsidies to be linked to the nutrient content of urea and promote the balanced application of fertilizers.

Introducing a Cap on Subsidized Fertilizer Bags:

• The government should set a cap on the number of subsidised bags of fertilizers per farmer as has been done for subsidised LPG cylinders, to reduce the government’s subsidy burden.

Leveraging Technology and Identification Systems:

• The CACP highlights the ease of implementing the proposed cap on subsidized fertilizers by utilizing Point of Sale devices installed at retailer shops.
• Beneficiaries can be identified through Aadhaar Card, Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Voter Identity Card, among other identification methods.

What is the NBS Regime?

About:

• Under the NBS regime – fertilizers are provided to the farmers at subsidized rates based on the Nutrients (N, P, K & S) contained in these fertilizers.
• Also, the fertilizers which are fortified with secondary and micronutrients such as molybdenum (Mo) and zinc are given additional subsidy.
• The subsidy on P&K fertilizers is announced by the Government on an annual basis for each nutrient on a per kg basis – which are determined taking into account the international and domestic prices of P&K fertilizers, exchange rate, inventory level in the country etc.
• NBS policy intends to increase the consumption of P&K fertilizers so that optimum balance (N:P: K= 4:2:1) of NPK fertilization is achieved.

Significance:

• This will improve soil health and as a result the yield from the crops would increase, resulting in enhanced income to the farmers.
• It will make rational use of fertilizers; this would also ease off the burden of fertilizer subsidy.

What are the Challenges Related to NBS?

Economic and Environmental Costs:

• The fertilizer subsidy, including the NBS policy, imposes a significant financial burden on the economy. It ranks as the second-largest subsidy after food subsidy, straining fiscal health.
• Additionally, imbalanced fertilizer usage due to the pricing disparity has adverse environmental consequences, such as soil degradation and nutrient runoff, impacting long-term agricultural sustainability.

Black Marketing and Diversion:

• Subsidized urea is susceptible to black marketing and diversion. It is sometimes illegally sold to bulk buyers, traders, or non-agricultural users like plywood and animal feed manufacturers.
• Moreover, there are instances of subsidized urea being smuggled to neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal, leading to the loss of subsidized fertilizers intended for domestic agricultural use.

Leakage and Misuse:

• The NBS regime relies on an efficient distribution system to ensure that subsidized fertilizers reach the intended beneficiaries, i.e., farmers.
• However, there may be instances of leakage and misuse, where subsidized fertilizers do not reach farmers or are used for non-agricultural purposes. This undermines the effectiveness of the subsidy and denies genuine farmers access to affordable fertilizers.

Regional Disparities:

• Agricultural practices, soil conditions, and crop nutrient requirements vary across different regions of the country.
• Implementing a uniform NBS regime may not adequately address the specific needs and regional disparities, potentially leading to suboptimal nutrient application and productivity variations.

Way Forward

• A uniform policy for all fertilizers is necessary, as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are crucial for crop yields and quality.
• In the long term, NBS could be replaced by a flat per-acre cash subsidy that allows farmers to purchase any fertilizer.
• This subsidy should encompass value-added and customized products that provide efficient nitrogen delivery and other essential nutrients.
• It is crucial to strike a balance between price control, affordability, and sustainable nutrient management to achieve the desired outcomes of the NBS regime.

India New Zealand Round Table Meeting

Context: Recently, the first Round Table Joint Meeting between India and New Zealand with the industry and industry associations of both the countries took place in New Delhi.

• The meeting was co-chaired by the Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce and High Commissioner of New Zealand.

What are the Key Highlights of the Meeting?

• Both the countries acknowledged the huge potential in India and New Zealand partnership and the need for bringing in synergy for enhanced economic relations in areas of mutual interest.
• There was an acknowledged need to work beyond any free trade agreement and explore other areas where both can complement each other.
• The discussions focused on taking forward the objectives of the Joint Trade Committee (JTC), formed under the Bilateral Trade Agreement of 1986.
• New Zealand emphasised on facilitating trade and association with private sectors with some of the key areas being the promotion of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) system, carbon credit co-operation and working on issues like the requests on non-tariff measures for bilateral gains to the businesses of both the sides.
• The need for increasing the air connectivity links between the two countries was also emphasised.

What are the Key Points about New Zealand?

• Official Name: New Zealand/Aotearoa (Maori)
• Form of Government: Parliamentary democracy
• Capital: Wellington
• Official Languages: English, Maori
• Currency: New Zealand dollar
• Major Mountain Ranges: Southern Alps, Kaikoura Ranges
• Highest Mountain Peak: Mount Cook (3,754 meters) - called "Cloud Piercer" by Maori people
• Major Rivers: Waikato, Clurtha, Rangitaiki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Buller, Rakaia, Waitaki and Waiau
• 2 Main Islands: North and South Islands - separated by the Cook Strait

How are India’s Relations with New Zealand?

Historical Relations: India and New Zealand have a longstanding, friendly and growing relationship with ties going back to the 1800s, when Indians settled in Christchurch around the 1850s.

• Larger numbers of immigrants from Punjab and Gujarat came to New Zealand in the 1890s. Indian troops fought alongside the Anzacs in Gallipoli in 1915.

Political Relations: India and New Zealand have cordial and friendly relations rooted in the linkages of the Commonwealth, parliamentary democracy, and the English language.

• Both countries became independent in the same year and diplomatic representation of India was established in 1950.
• Other common interests of the two countries include their commitment to disarmament, North-South Dialogue, human rights, ecological preservation and combating international terrorism.
• New Zealand identified India as a priority country in its “Opening Doors to India” policy notified in October 2011, which was reiterated in 2015.

Cooperation during Covid-19 Pandemic: Both countries cooperated extensively both bilaterally in fighting against the pandemic by ensuring the continuity of supply chains of essential commodities, medicines, and vaccines.

• India and New Zealand also facilitated the repatriation of each other’s nationals stranded in the wake of Covid-19.

Trade Relations: India is New Zealand’s 11th largest two-way trading partner with total two-way trade valued at USD 1.80 billion during the year ending September 2020.

• Education and tourism are New Zealand’s growth sectors with India.
• Indian students (~15000 in number pre-pandemic) are the 2nd largest source of international students for New Zealand.
• India primarily imports logs and forestry products, wood pulp, wool and edible fruit & nuts from New Zealand and exports mostly pharmaceuticals/medications, precious metals and gems, textiles and motor vehicles and non-knitted apparel and accessories to New Zealand.
• India shares Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with New Zealand.
• Business Alliances: India -New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) and India New Zealand Trade Alliance (INZTA) are the two prominent organizations working to promote India-NZ trade and investment relations.
• Cultural Relations: All Indian festivals including Diwali, Holi, Rakshabandhan, Baisakhi, Guruparv, Onam, Pongal, etc. are celebrated with much enthusiasm all over New Zealand.
  • New Zealand has approximately 2,50,000 persons of Indian origin & NRIs, a vast majority of which has made New Zealand their permanent home.
• Civil Aviation Cooperation: Given the large Indian diaspora in New Zealand and increasing two-way tourism flow, there is a strong case for a direct air connection between the two countries which might prove to be a game-change for all aspects of bilateral relations.
  • The direct flights operated between the two countries under the Vande Bharat Mission have strengthened the prospects of a direct weekly flight as and when the possibility becomes commercially feasible for airlines.

Jal Jeevan Mission

Context: Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) in its study, it highlighted the potential impact of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) including significant health and socio-economic benefits.

What are the Key Highlights of the Study?

Averting Deaths from Diarrhoea:

• JJM has the potential to avert close to 4 lakh deaths from Diarrhoea. This highlights the life-saving impact of providing piped potable water to all households in India.

Avoidance of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs):

• JJM can help avoid approximately 14 million DALYs associated with diarrhoea and save around USD 101 billion and 66.6 million hours every day of time that would otherwise have been spent — predominantly by women — collecting water.
• A DALY represents the loss of the equivalent of one year of full health and are a way to account for the years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLLs) and the years lived with a disability (YLDs), due to prevalent cases of a disease or a health condition, in a population.

Gender Equality:

• The availability of piped water can contribute to gender equality by reducing the burden of water collection on women and providing them with more opportunities for education and employment.

What is the Jal Jeevan Mission?

About:

• Launched in 2019, it envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.
• JJM looks to create a jan andolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority.
• It comes under Jal Shakti Ministry.

Aims:

• The mission ensures functionality of existing water supply systems and water connections, water quality monitoring and testing as well as sustainable agriculture.
• It also ensures conjunctive use of conserved water; drinking water source augmentation, drinking water supply system, grey water treatment and its reuse.

Features:

• JJM focuses on integrated demand and supply-side management of water at the local level.
• Creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse, is undertaken in convergence with other government programmes/schemes.
• The Mission is based on a community approach to water and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication as a key component of the mission.

Implementation:

• Paani Samitis plan, implement, manage, operate and maintain village water supply systems.
• These consist of 10-15 members, with at least 50% women members and other members from Self-Help Groups, Accredited Social and Health Workers, Anganwadi teachers, etc.
• The committees prepare a one-time village action plan, merging all available village resources. The plan is approved in a Gram Sabha before implementation.

Funding Pattern:

• 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.

What has JJM's Performance Been?

• Currently about 12.3 crore (62%) rural households have piped water connections up from 3.2 crore (16.6%) from 2019.
• Five states viz; Gujarat, Telangana, Goa, Haryana, and Punjab and 3 Union Territories — Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Daman Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli and Puducherry have reported 100% coverage.
• Himachal Pradesh at 98.87%, followed by Bihar at 96.30%, are also poised to achieve saturation in near future.

What is the Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban)?

• In the Budget 2021-22, Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) was announced under the MInistry of Housing of Urban Affairs to provide universal coverage of water supply to all households through functional taps in all statutory towns in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal- 6.
• It complements the Jal Jeevan Mission (Rural) which envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.

Objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban):

• Securing tap and sewer connections.
• Rejuvenation of water bodies.
• Creating circular water economy.