Jal Jeevan Mission| What is Jal Jeevan Mission? UPSC CSE

Summary Of The Jal Jeevan Mission

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched in 2019, aims to ensure safe drinking water access for every rural household through tap connections by 2024. JJM emphasizes both demand and supply-side water management. Its components include JJM Rural and JJM Urban. As of January 2024, 73.4% of rural households have tap water connections. JJM's impact extends to child mortality reduction, hygiene promotion, women's empowerment, employment generation, and environmental protection. However, challenges include constraints for resources & funding besides awareness gaps. To achieve its goals, JJM requires increased funding, technological integration, and public-private partnerships. The mission holds immense potential to uplift rural lives by ensuring universal access to safe drinking water.

1) What is Jal Jeevan Mission?

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was launched in 2019 with the aim to ensure safe drinking water access for every rural household through tap connections by 2024.Its components include JJM Rural and JJM Urban.

2) What is the difference between Water stress and Water scarcity?

Water stress occurs when annual water supply of an area goes below 1700 cubic metres per person while if the annual water supply of an area goes below 1000 cubic metres per person, it is termed as Water scarcity. If the annual water supply drops below 500 cubic metres, it is known as absolute water scarcity.

3) What are Paani Samitis?

Paani Samitis are the local-level bodies formed under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). consists of 10 to 15 members from the village community, with at least 50% of members being women. Their main aim is to ensure sustainable water supply and sanitation facilities in their respective villages.

Background Of The Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM)

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is a revamped and upgraded version of the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). At the time of announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission on 15th August 2019 , 3.23 Crore (17%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections The Indian Government has transformed NRDWP into Jal Jeevan Mission to provide Functional Home Tap Connections (FHTC) to every rural household under the initiative named Har Ghar Nal Se Jal (HGNSJ) by 2024. The primary objective of Jal Jeevan Mission is to transform the lives of millions of people in India who have faced challenges in accessing safe drinking water for many years. Its ultimate aim is to enhance the health and overall quality of life for people living in rural areas.

Introduction Of The Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM)

Launched in 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission is a prominent initiative of the Indian Government aiming to ensure access to safe and sufficient drinking water for every rural household through individual tap connections by 2024. The strategy of JJM entails a comprehensive approach involving both the demand and supply sides of water management at the local level. This includes establishing local infrastructure for source sustainability, incorporating practices such as rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and effective management of household wastewater for agricultural reuse. The Mission is designed to conconverge the various Central and State Government Schemes to achieve sustainable water supply management goals nationwide.

Features of Jal Jeevan Mission

Nodal Ministry: Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Jal Shakti Ministry.
It is based on a Community-centric approach with a focus on Information, Education, and Communication(IEC).
Funding split: 50:50 between Centre and States, 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 100% for Union Territories from the Central government.
JJM has 2 components: JJM Rural & JJM Urban.
Institutional Mechanism of JJM:
- National Jal Jeevan Mission
- State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM)
- District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM)
- Paani Samiti/ Village Water Sanitation Committee - sub-committee of Gram Panchayat(GP)
Implementation of the JJM is through Paani Samitis, consisting of 10-15 members with a mandate of at least 50% women members and others from SHGs, ASHA Workers, Anganwadi teachers, etc. They are required to prepare a one-time village action plan, merging all available village resources, subject to approval by Gram Sabha.

JJM Rural

Water Supply Goals: It aims to provide 55 litres of water per person per day through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.
Augmentation and Quality Assurance: It involves enhancing drinking water sources, ensuring water quality through monitoring, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Water Conservation: The mission encourages the judicious use of conserved water and focuses on the treatment and reuse of greywater.
Community-Centric Approach: Community-driven, Paani Samitis manage planning, implementation, and maintenance of village water supply systems.

JJM Urban

Announced in: Budget 2021-22
Under: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs(MoHUA)
Objectives: To secure tap and sewer connections, Rejuvenation of Water Bodies & creating circular water economy.
Expansion of Tap Connections: Aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connections to residences in all 4,378 Urban Local Bodies.
Liquid Waste Management: Extends to include liquid waste management initiatives in 500 cities covered under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

JJM’s Performance(as on Jan, 2024)

As per the JJM dashboard, around 14.14 crore rural households (73.40%) have tap water connections across the nation as of Jan, 2024.
100% Tap Connectivity States: Goa, Telangana, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab & Himachal Pradesh.
100% Tap connectivity UTs: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
States with Least FHTC coverage: West Bengal(41%), Rajasthan(45%) and Jharkhand(48%)

Impact or Significance of JJM:

Child Mortality: As per a study by University of Chicago, if JJM succeeds in its mission, it will prevent around 1,36,000 under-5 deaths per year.
Diarrhoeal Deaths: As per WHO study, if JJM succeeds in its mission, the diarrhoeal deaths would be reduced by almost half (45.4%) or 4,00,000 deaths.
Promotes Hygiene: JJM promotes practices such as sanitation, handwashing, and menstrual hygiene management.
Women Empowerment: JJM liberates women and children from the arduous task of fetching water from distant and unsafe sources, saving time and energy.
Employment Generation: JJM provides direct and indirect employment opportunities, supporting local industries such as dairy, poultry, handicrafts, etc that depend on water as an input.
Protects environment: JJM alleviates stress on groundwater resources, enhances green cover, and boosts biodiversity through promoting rainwater harvesting, watershed management, and afforestation.
Achieving SDG Goal 6- JJM contributes towards achieving Universal Access to safe drinking water.

Challenges in implementation:

Convergence Gap: The water sector in India encompasses various entities across central, state, and local levels. Their ineffective coordination and convergence pose a significant challenge to JJM's success.
Resource Gap: Inadequate resources like pipes, pumps, filters, meters, etc., hinder the efficient implementation of JJM
Funding gap: JJM requires a substantial funding of about Rs 3.6 lakh crore to achieve its target.
Awareness Gap: There exists a lack of behavioral change among rural communities concerning water conservation and management practices.

Conclusion Of The Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM)

The Jal Jeevan Mission is a transformative project with the goal of achieving 'Har Ghar Jal' (water for every home) by 2024. JJM is a vital initiative for the dignity and empowerment of rural communities. The need of the hour is to increase the fund & resource allocation by using CSR funding and exploring PPP options. Leveraging technology will ensure real time monitoring and feedback. The mission seeks to enhance health, increase productivity and income, reduce strenuous tasks, alleviate time pressures, and create opportunities for education and skill development by providing rural households with access to safe water.

Mains PYQS of What is Jal Jeevan Mission?

1) What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India?

2) To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing water, sanitation and hygiene needs, the identification of beneficiary segments is to be synchronized with the anticipated outcomes’ Examine the statement in the context of the WASH scheme.

Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM)

What is Jal Jeevan Mission? UPSC CSE