News Highlight
Around 62% of rural households in India have fully functional tap water connections within their premises.
Key Takeaway
- The data is based on a survey commissioned by the Union Ministry of Water Resources to assess the functioning of the government’s Jal Jeevan Mission.
What does the survey say?
- The findings show Puducherry at the top with an 88% functionality score, followed by Tamil Nadu (86%), Himachal Pradesh (82%), Goa (81%) and Telangana (80%).
- Water-scarce Rajasthan is at the bottom with the lowest 38% functionality score, with Kerala, Manipur and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (40% each), Tripura (41%), Maharashtra (43%) and Madhya Pradesh (47%) appearing as second, third, fourth and fifth worst states, respectively.
- The other states where functionality was less than the national average of 62% include Odisha (54%), Haryana and Jharkhand (55% each), Uttar Pradesh (57%) and Karnataka (58%).
What is a functional tap water connection?
- A fully functional tap water connection is defined as a household getting at least 55 litres per capita per day of potable water throughout the year.
Jal Jeevan Mission
- About
- It was launched in 2019 and envisages a supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.
- Nodal Ministry:
- Ministry of Jalshakti.
- Vision:
- Every rural household has a drinking water supply in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on a regular and long-term basis at affordable service delivery charges leading to improvement in living standards of rural communities.
- Objectives:
- To provide a functional tap connection to every rural household.
- To prioritise the provision of functional tap connection 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 centers, Health centers, wellness centers 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 the sustainability of the water supply system, i.e. water source, water supply infrastructure.
- To empower and develop human resources in the sector such that the demands of construction, plumbing, electrical, water quality management, water treatment, catchment protection 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 makes water everyone’s business.
- Funding Pattern:
- 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States
- 50:50 for other states
- 100% for Union Territories.
- Focus Areas:
- Recharge and reuse through grey water management.
- Water conservation.
- Rainwater harvesting.
- Community-based programme:
- The Jal Jeevan Mission will be based on a community approach to water and will include extensive Information, education and communication as critical components of the mission.
- It aims to create a Jan Andolan for water, making it everyone’s priority.
Jal Jeevan Mission(Urban)
- About
- In the Budget 2021-22, Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) has been announced to provide universal water supply coverage to all households through functional taps in all statutory towns per Sustainable Development Goal- 6.
- Ministry:
- Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry
- Objectives:
- Securing tap and sewer connections
- Rejuvenation of water bodies
- Creating a circular water economy
Pic Courtesy: The statesman
Content Source: The Hindu