The Jal Jeevan Mission is a flagship program of the Indian government aimed at providing piped potable water to all rural households in India.
The mission has a target to achieve 100% coverage by 2024.
A modelling study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and commissioned by the Jal Shakti Ministry estimates that the successful implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission could avert nearly 4,00,000 deaths from diarrhea in India.
The study further highlights that the mission's success could save close to 14 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) associated with diarrhea.
DALYs represent the years of life lost due to premature mortality and years lived with a disability, accounting for the disease burden on the population.
The study also suggests that the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission could save approximately $101 billion and 66.6 million hours per day, predominantly by women, which are otherwise spent collecting water.
This demonstrates the economic benefits of improved access to piped water.
The mission aims to ensure a functional tap water connection that provides at least 55 litres of per capita per day of potable water throughout the year.
While the study does not assess the current level of contamination in the piped water, the mission's focus on providing safe and clean water is crucial in reducing water-borne diseases like diarrhea.
As of now, approximately 62% of rural households in India have piped water connections, up from 16.6% in 2019.
The government aims to achieve 100% coverage by 2024.
Several states and union territories have already reported 100% coverage or are close to achieving it.
Access to clean and safe drinking water plays a vital role in reducing water-borne diseases like diarrhea.
Contaminated water is a major cause of diarrheal diseases, which can lead to severe health issues and even death, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children.
Improved access to clean water reduces the burden of waterborne diseases, resulting in better health outcomes, improved productivity, and reduced healthcare costs.
It also contributes to poverty alleviation by saving time and resources spent on water collection, particularly for women and girls.
The Jal Jeevan Mission is closely linked to sanitation interventions.
Investments in sanitation along with access to clean water have a significant positive impact on public health and can provide a return on investment in terms of reduced healthcare costs.
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