According to a release from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has reached a key milestone by supplying safe and clean drinking water through taps to over 12 crore rural homes across the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the programme on August 15, 2019, when only 3.23 crore rural families had access to piped water connections. However, as of today, five states – Goa, Telangana, Haryana, Gujarat, and Punjab – and three union territories – Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands – have claimed 100% coverage. Both Himachal Pradesh (98.35%) and Bihar (96.05%) are on track to achieve saturation soon enough.
The states of Goa, Haryana, Punjab, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu have been certified as ‘Har Ghar Jal’ states/UTs, where villagers have confirmed that all households and public institutions in the village receive adequate, safe, and consistent water supply.
According to the ministry, the union and state governments’ tireless efforts have also resulted in the provision of tap water in 9.06 lakh (88.55%) schools and 9.39 lakh (84%) Anganwadi centres across the country.
Only 21.64 lakh (7.84%) of the 112 aspirational districts in the country had a tap water connection when JJM was launched. However, this number has since climbed to 1.67 crore (60.51%).
More than 5.24 lakh Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSC)/Pani Samitis have been formed in the country, and 5.12 lakh Village Action Plans (VAPs) have been prepared, including plans for drinking water source augmentation, greywater treatment and reuse, and regular O&M of in-village water supply systems.
The JJM is trying to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6, i.e., clean, and cheap water for all, by providing safe water through taps to all rural families, schools, anganwadis, and other public institutions. The mission is moving on with the motto “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas.”
