Turning Drip to Gush

Context: The current pandemic has brought the issues of health and well-being to the centre of public policy, of which water and sanitation lie at the core. Like the earlier SBM, JJM, too, critically recognises this fact and just in time.

About Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

• Stresses on the relevance of water for socio-economic development, environment and climate, health and sanitation, and human welfare and survival.
• Launched on August 15, 2019, with an outlay of Rs 3.6 lakh crore. 
• Aspires to provide functional household tap connection (FHTC) to 95 crore people spread over 19 crore rural families by 2024.
• An urban component has been initiated, with an outlay of Rs 2.87 lakh crore, which seeks to mobilise 2.86 crore household tap connections in all the 4,378 urban local bodies (ULBs). 
• An imminent success: 
• Now, about 8 crore rural households have assured potable tap water supply in their homes. 
• The coverage has moved to over 41%, starting from a meagre 17% in August 2019.
• 7 lakh schools and an equal number of Anganwadi centres now have the provision of a tap water supply.
• The goal of ‘Har Ghar Jal (Water in all homes) by 2024 looks eminently possible today.

Factors that contributed to the success of JJM

• Proactive financing:
  • Allocation for the mission has been increased from Rs 11,500 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 50,000 crore in 2021-22.
  • 15th Finance Commission’s stress on water and sanitation meant an additional Rs 70,000 crore.
• Mission mode approach: Expanding the learnings from Swachh Bharath Mission (SBM), operating with a tight sunset clause, contributes to checking time and cost overrun issues in the ‘drip’ approach in other programmes.
• Decentralised, demand-driven, and community-managed scheme: JJM focuses on delivery, not so much on infrastructure. 
• Capacity management, operation and maintenance, service delivery, source sustainability and water quality are some of the vulnerable planks that receive special watch under JJM.
• Leadership core comprising women: 7 lakh women already trained, has emerged at the ward and village levels, converting JJM to a mission for and run by women.
• Impact on ‘ease of living: With assured water supply, retaining ODF status becomes achievable.
• Awareness building component:
  • 100-day campaign to provide potable piped water to all schools is timed well to sync with the reopening of schools across the country.
  • The ongoing ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign banks on people’s participation to systematically conserve water.