Background:
Rural India has 18.93 crore households, of whom only 17 percent had some version of a tap water connection. Realizing this disparity, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was launched by the Indian PM on 15th August 2019.
Jal Jeevan Mission:
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It aims to deliver a functional tap connection by 2024 to every household in rural India.
Benefits of JJM:
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The expected outcomes are linked to a reduction in drudgery in the life of women and providing dignity of life to rural communities.
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The Mission will also see the skill-development of an entirely new set of plumbers, masons, pump-mechanics, quality-control specialists across Bharat, opening up a vast job market.
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At 15 new jobs per village, there would be an addition of 90 lakh new jobs in rural India.
Progress of JJM:
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The reported progress to date has been more than satisfactory. It has met around 41% of its target as of July 2021. It does appear that by 2024, the overall target can be achieved.
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This by itself will be commendable considering the federal structure of our polity, the diversity of the water-source challenge in different geographies, and the sheer granularity of the deliverables.
Other measures that JJM can take:
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Experts suggest launching an aggressive outreach program for corporations, trusts, and foundations in India and abroad. This may enable them to participate in this historic drive by adopting a cluster of villages.
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Further, the evolution of the Pani Samitis into local Water Utilities can be widened to include electricity, public health, and education.
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The numerous incidences of contamination of groundwater with fluoride, arsenic, iron, salinity, nitrate, and heavy metals are posing quite a challenge.
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A dedicated technical team to address the long-term elimination of these conditions will be a blessing to the affected communities.