PIB Summary- 13th March, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Jal Jeevan Mission

Context: Union Minister of Jal Shakti reviews progress made under Jal Jeevan Mission with Water Resource Ministers of all States/ UTs.

Details

• The Jal Jeevan Mission is a flagship program of the Union Government for providing tap water connection in every rural household by 2024.
• The Union Budget 2021 saw an increase in the allocation of funds for the mission from Rs 11,500 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 50,011 crore in 2021-22.
• In total, more than 7 Crore rural families (36.5%) have now started getting clean water in their homes, i.e. more than 1/3rd of rural household are getting potable water through taps. 

Impact of climate change on water resources

• The decline in the glaciers in the Himalayas.
• The drought situation in many parts of the country due to a shortage of rainfall.
• Increase in floods due to the increase in the intensity of rains
• Effect on groundwater quality and quantity
• Increased saline intrusion in coastal aquifers due to rising sea levels.

What is the purpose of having this mission?

• Conserve water
• Minimize wastage
• Manage water resources in such a way that there is an equal distribution of water across the nation.

The objective of the National Water Mission

• Increase water use efficiency by 20% through regulations, differential entitlements and pricing.
• A considerable share of water needs of urban areas is to be met through recycling of wastewater.
• Water requirements of coastal cities are to be met through the adoption of low-temperature desalination technologies.
• Consult with states to ensure that basin-level management strategies are made to deal with variability in rainfall and river flows due to climate change.
• Enhance storage above and below ground, implement rainwater harvesting.
• Adopt large scale irrigation programmes which rely on sprinklers, drip irrigation and ridge and furrow irrigation.

National Water Mission document consists of 2 volumes. One volume deals with funds required for the mission, Research and Development that would be required for this mission, monitoring of the mission and the composition of the various committees to run this mission. Volume 2 of the mission document deals with the reports generated by 6 different sub-committees. The sub-committees are

• Sub-Committee on “Surface Water Management committee”
• Sub-Committee on “Efficient use of water for various purposes committee”
• Sub-Committee on “Domestic and Industrial Water management committee
• Sub-Committee on “Policy and Institutional framework committee”
• Sub-Committee on “Groundwater management committee”
• Sub-Committee on “Basin level planning and management”

WRIS
An important milestone of this mission was the establishment of a Water Resources Information System (WRIS). This fulfils the mission’s goal to have an extensive database on water resources in the public domain.

National Water Mission Awards 2019
As per the mission document of the National Water Mission, the mission has 5 goals and 39 strategies. One of the strategies is to incentivize the organisations through awards. In line with this Mission has decided to confer ‘National Water Mission Awards’ in recognition of excellence achieved in sustainable water management, efficient use of water, and for excellence in water conservation.

The awards are given in the following 10 categories.

1. Comprehensive water database in the public domain – Winners of this award are the Water Resources Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh and Irrigation and CAD Department, Government of Telangana.
2. Assessment of the impact of climate change on water resources – Winners of this award are Environmental Planning and Coordination Organisation (EPCO), Department of Environment, Bhopal.
3. Promotion of citizen and state action for water conservation, augmentation and preservation – Winners are the Water Resources Department, Government of Rajasthan and Department of Soil and Water conservation, Government of Punjab.
4. Focused attention to vulnerable areas including over-exploited areas – Winners are Ambuja Cement Foundation, and State Ground Water Department, Government of Telangana.
5. Increasing water use efficiency by 20% – (Local individuals/farmer/citizens)
6. Increasing water use efficiency by 20% – (WUA, SHG’s, RWA’s)
7. Increasing water use efficiency by 20% (Public agencies – ULB’s/Cities, Govt organisations etc) – Winners are Department of Telangana Rural water supply and sanitation, Govt of Telangana for its Mission Bhagiratha.
8. Increasing water use efficiency by 20% (Industries/Corporate) – Winners are Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd, Guntur; Lalitpur Power Generation Company Ltd, Raymond UCO Denim Pvt Ltd.
9. Promotion of basin level integrated water resources management – Winners are the Water Resources Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh
10. Water Resources Department, Maharashtra.

Hunar Haat

Context: 27th “Hunar Haat” inaugurated at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

Details

• This is the 27th such Haat organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and is seeing participation from more than 600 artists.
• Hunar Haats have become a “Mega Mission” of indigenous craft, cuisine & culture and economic empowerment of master artisans and craftsmen.
• Through these Haats, in the last 3 years, about 3 lakh needy master artisans, craftsmen & culinary experts have been provided employment and employment opportunities.
• The beneficiaries include a large number of women artisans too.
• The government plans to organise about 100 Hunar Haats across the country in the next 5 years.
• Hunar Haats provide a platform to the artisans/craftsmen from the minority communities for marketing their products.
• Organised by the Minority Affairs Ministry, these Haats encourage the artisans practicing indigenous talent or crafts.
• Apart from providing employment opportunities, they also give these artisans new businesses.
• These Haats are organised under the USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts / Crafts for Development) scheme of the central government.
  • USTTAD scheme aims to preserve the heritage of traditional arts and crafts of minority communities and build capacity of traditional crafts-persons and artisans and establish linkages of traditional skills with the global market.
  • It was launched in 2015.