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This news item discusses the extension of the deadline for the Jal Jeevan Mission, a flagship program aimed at providing piped water to all rural households in India
Prime Minister Modi's initial promise was to achieve this goal by 2024.
Finance Minister Sitharaman announced in the Budget speech that the mission will now be completed by 2028.
This signifies a four-year delay.
The article acknowledges that 80% of rural households now have piped water connections, a substantial increase from 15% in 2019.
This demonstrates the mission's initial success.
"Low Hanging Fruit" Approach: The initial phase of the mission focused on areas where infrastructure was mostly in place, making it easier to achieve quick gains in coverage. This explains the rapid initial progress.
Expanding coverage beyond 50% proved more challenging, suggesting that reaching the remaining households requires more complex and resource-intensive solutions.
Launched in 2019, it envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.
JJM looks to create a jan andolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority.
It comes under Jal Shakti Ministry.
Aims:
The mission ensures functionality of existing water supply systems and water connections, water quality monitoring and testing as well as sustainable agriculture.
It also ensures conjunctive use of conserved water; drinking water source augmentation, drinking water supply system, grey water treatment and its reuse.
Features:
JJM focuses on integrated demand and supply-side management of water at the local level.
Creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse, is undertaken in convergence with other government programmes/schemes.
The Mission is based on a community approach to water and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication as a key component of the mission.
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