Jal Jeevan Mission UPSC

• JJM is a flagship programme of the Union Government being implemented in partnership with the States with the objective to provide tap water connection in every rural household by 2024.
• The programme will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation, rainwater harvesting.
• The Jal Jeevan Mission will be based on a community approach to water and will include extensive Information, Education and communication as a key component of the mission.
• The Mission was launched on August 15, 2019.
• Under Jal Jeevan Mission, in 2021-22, in addition to Rs 50,011 Crore budgetary allocation, there is also Rs 26,940 Crore assured fund available under the 15th Finance Commission tied-grant to RLB/ PRIs for water & sanitation, matching State share and externally aided as well as State-funded projects.
• Thus, in 2021-22, more than Rs. 1 lakh Crore is planned to be invested in the country on ensuring tap water supply to rural homes.
• JJM focuses on the development of a Village Action Plan (VAP) and the formation of a Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC) for every village so that the local village community plays a key role in the planning, implementation as well as operation and maintenance of the in-village water supply infrastructure created for them.
• This ensures a bottom-up approach with the participation of the local community.
• Through community engagement, the resources created in the villages/ habitations are handed over to the Panchayats or VWSC for monitoring, surveillance and upkeep.
• Under JJM, water quality testing laboratories at district &State levels are given priority and the community is being encouraged to surveillance of water quality.
• ‘Jal Shakti Vibhag’ is facilitating to empower and engagement with the community.

The broad objectives of the Mission are:

• To provide FHTC to every rural household.
• To prioritize the provision of FHTCs in quality affected areas, villages in drought-prone and desert areas, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages, etc.
• To provide functional tap connection to Schools, Anganwadi centres, GP buildings, Health centres, wellness centres and community buildings
• To monitor the functionality of tap connections.
• To promote and ensure voluntary ownership among the local community by way of contribution in cash, kind and/ or labour and voluntary labour (shramdaan)
• To assist in ensuring sustainability of water supply system, i.e. water source, water supply infrastructure, and funds for regular O&M
• To empower and develop human resources in the sector such that the demands of construction, plumbing, electrical, water quality management, water treatment, catchment protection, O&M, etc. are taken care of in the short and long term
• To bring awareness on various aspects and significance of safe drinking water and involvement of stakeholders in a manner that make water everyone's business

The following components are supported under JJM

• Development of in-village piped water supply infrastructure to provide tap water connection to every rural household
• Development of reliable drinking water sources and/ or augmentation of existing sources to provide long-term sustainability of the water supply system
• Wherever necessary, bulk water transfer, treatment plants and distribution network to cater to every rural household
• Technological interventions for the removal of contaminants where water quality is an issue
• Retrofitting of completed and ongoing schemes to provide FHTCs at the minimum service level of 55 lpcd;
• Greywater management
• Support activities, i.e. IEC, HRD, training, development of utilities, water quality laboratories, water quality testing & surveillance, R&D, knowledge centre, capacity building of communities, etc.
• Any other unforeseen challenges/ issues emerging due to natural disasters/ calamities which affect the goal of FHTC for every household by 2024, as per guidelines of the Ministry of Finance on Flexi Funds