Q. What were the reasons for conceptualizing Jal Jeevan Mission?
Ans. With the growing population and expanding economic activities in the country, there is an increase in demand for water. With finite availability of water and competing demands, drinking water management has become a complex issue. The widening demand-supply gap is further compounded by other challenges, like groundwater depletion due to over-extraction, poor recharge, low storage capacity, erratic rainfall due to climate change, presence of contaminants, poor operation and maintenance (O&M) of water supply systems, etc.
These challenges have put further pressure on the rural population, which have catered to their water needs using traditional knowledge and their water wisdom. Therefore, there is a need to provide piped water supply to the rural population to not only improve the health and socioeconomic condition of local communities but also bring down the drudgery of rural women and girls.
Q. What are the objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission?
Ans. The broad objectives of the Mission are:
Q. What are the components under JJM?
Ans. The following components are supported under JJM:
Q. Is there any action plan to implement JJM? What are they?
Ans. Yes, to implement JJM, action plans will be prepared at each level, that is, village, district and state as mentioned below.
Village Action Plan (VAP) - A Village Action Plan (VAP) will be prepared by Gram Panchayat or its sub-committee, i.e. VWSC/ User Committee etc. with support from ISA, PHED, DWSM based on baseline survey, resource mapping and felt needs of the village community. The VAP will be approved in the Gaon Sabha, when 80% of the village community present in the meeting agree to the prepared plan. VAP will then be submitted to DWSM for further action.
District Action Plan (VAP) - DWSM will be responsible for preparation and finalization of District Action Plan (DAP) which will be an aggregation of all VAPs received detailing the strategic plan for FHTC to all rural households by 2024 along with quarterly and annual plan. The final DAP will be submitted to the SWSM for further action.
State Action Plan (SAP) - The SAP will be prepared and finalized by SWSM with the help of PHED based on DAPs with an objective of achieving overall state drinking water security. SAP will be prepared for a period up to 2024, inter alia which covers overall strategic plan, modalities for implementation, activities to be taken up, outputs to be achieved along with timelines, annual financial outlay, etc. The Strategic plan under SAP will detail source sustainability, functionality, monitoring, third party inspections for implementation, water measurement, greywater management and comprehensive O&M plan for the system. The SAP will be considered and approved by DDWS based on consultations with the respective State/ UT and funding arrangement will be made accordingly.
The Annual Action Plan (AAP) of the State/ UT will emerge from the approved SAP firming up the physical and financial district-wise targets and will be submitted to DDWS/ NJJM. The AAP will be approved by DDWS/ NJJM based on consultation with the respective State/ UT and funds will be released keeping in view the achievements under Annual Action Plan (AAP).
Q. What are the schemes/ sub-missions that have been subsumed under JJM?
Ans. The following ongoing programmes under under the erstwhile National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) have been subsumed into JJM.
Q. What is the institutional mechanism for the implementation of JJM?
Ans. JJM is a time bound mission mode programme and hence and needs robust institutional framework for its successful implementation. A four-tier institutional mechanism is set up at National, State, District and Village level as under:
Tier |
Mission |
Role |
National Level |
National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) |
There will be National Jal Jeevan Mission headed by a senior officer with a directorate. The mission will have all powers needed for the successful implementation of the Mission for long-term drinking water security to rural communities. |
State Level |
State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) |
SWSM, a state level institution headed by Chief Secretary with Principal Secretary/ Secretary in-charge of PHED as Mission Director is the organisation responsible for implementation of JJM in the state. |
District Level |
District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) |
At the district level, DWSM is responsible for overall implementation of JJM. DWSM will be headed by Deputy Commissioner. Executive Engineer (EE), PHED will be the member secretary. DWSM will convene monthly meetings to consider and accord administrative approval of the in-village water supply schemes, plan protection and preservation of village water sources, greywater management, preventing water bodies/sources from getting polluted, etc. |
Gaon Panchayat Level |
Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/ User Committee |
Under JJM, the community will play a lead role in planning, implementation, management, operation and maintenance of in-village water supply infrastructure thereby leading to FHTCs to every rural household. The willingness of community, reflected through resolution Gaon Sabha and community contribution, will be the foremost criterion for planning of water supply system in villages. |
Q. How will FHTCs be provided?
Ans. FHTCs will be provided to every rural household by creating in-village water supply infrastructure including source development under any one of the following suggested categories, viz.
Q. How will water be provided to households where tap water connections are not feasible?
Ans. In such areas, local innovations/ technological solutions will be explored. Suggestive technological solutions to address challenges in the supply of drinking water are as under:
Q. What is a Scheme Cycle?
Ans. Ordinarily, in-village water supply infrastructure development may take 12 to 18 months. The same can be divided into following three phases: