HAR GHAR JAL

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Context

The Har Ghar Jal initiative is likely to fall short of its target, with only 75% of village homes expected to have drinking water taps by April 2024.

Details

The Har Ghar Jal initiative aims to provide potable water connections to all rural households in India by 2024 under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Multiple sources and data analysis indicate that the initiative is likely to fall short of its target, with only 75% of village homes expected to have drinking water taps by April 2024.
The scheme faced several challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, shortage of qualified manpower, state-specific issues, and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Challenges and Issues

COVID-19 Pandemic:

The pandemic led to delays in the implementation of the Har Ghar Jal initiative.
Restrictions and disruptions affected the availability of resources and manpower required for the project.

Shortages of Steel and Cement:

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war resulted in major shortages of steel and cement, which are critical for manufacturing and connecting metal pipes.
Price revisions and contract renegotiations caused delays in the supply of these materials.

Lack of Skilled Manpower:

Many states faced challenges in finding enough skilled workers to construct tanks, cisterns, and water connections of acceptable quality.
Rajasthan, for instance, struggled with the availability of water itself, while West Bengal and Kerala dealt with water contamination issues.

Progress and Expectations

Expected Coverage:

Officials expect about 75% of households to be covered by March 2024 and 80% by December.
However, there are approximately one crore households (5% of the total) where work has not even begun, and some areas may not be fully connected until 2025-26.

Financial Outlay and Funding:

The Jal Jeevan Mission has a financial outlay of ₹3.60 lakh crore, with the center funding 50% of the cost and states/union territories bearing the rest.

Reported Tap Connections:

Data on the Jal Shakti Ministry portal indicates that about 63% of rural households have tap connections, benefiting approximately 9.1 crore households since 2019.
However, there is a significant gap between reported and verified connections, with only 58,357 out of 1,68,000 villages being certified as 'Har Ghar Jal' villages.

State-Specific Examples:

Uttar Pradesh witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of households with tap connections, but only a small percentage of villages have been certified.
Rajasthan and West Bengal also showed progress, but the certification process is still lacking in many villages.

Independent Verification

The government relies on independent mechanisms for verification, including an audit agency and a panel of National WASH experts.
A survey conducted in October 2022 found that only 62% of households in 5,298 reported 'Har Ghar Jal' villages had fully functional connections.

Political Angle

Two states, Bihar and Telangana, did not certify their connection status as they did not rely on central funds for their drinking water supply programs.
Certification involves prominently publicizing the Prime Minister and Chief Minister's images on posters, which some states are hesitant to do due to political reasons.

About Har Ghar Jal Initiative

The Har Ghar Jal initiative is part of the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Its objective is to provide potable water connections to all rural households in the country by 2024.

About Jal Jeevan Mission

The Jal Jeevan Mission is a flagship program launched by the Government of India.
Its aim is to provide tap water connections to every rural household in the country.

Objective and Scope

The primary objective of the Jal Jeevan Mission is to provide potable water to all rural households in India.
The mission focuses on ensuring piped water supply to every household, promoting ease of access to clean drinking water.

Targeted Coverage and Timelines

The mission aims to achieve 100% coverage of tap water connections in rural areas by 2024.
The target is to provide functional tap connections to approximately 19.5 crore rural households in the country.

Financial Outlay and Funding

The Jal Jeevan Mission has a significant financial outlay of ₹3.60 lakh crore.
The funding is shared between the central government and states/union territories, with the central government contributing 50% of the cost.

Key Features and Components

Infrastructure Development

The mission focuses on developing the necessary infrastructure for providing tap water connections.
This includes the construction of water sources, water treatment plants, storage tanks, distribution networks, and individual household connections.

Community Participation

The mission emphasizes the active involvement of local communities in planning, implementation, and management of water supply schemes.
It encourages the formation of Water and Sanitation Committees at the village level for effective community participation.

Capacity Building and Training

The mission focuses on capacity building and training programs for rural communities, particularly on water management and maintenance of infrastructure.
Training sessions are conducted to raise awareness about the importance of clean water and proper hygiene practices.

Water Quality Monitoring

The Jal Jeevan Mission emphasizes the regular monitoring of water quality to ensure that the supplied water is safe for drinking.
Testing laboratories are set up at various levels to monitor and maintain the quality of water supplied to rural households.

Implementation Strategy

Convergence with Other Schemes

The mission aims to ensure convergence with other government schemes, such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission), to achieve better outcomes in water supply and sanitation.

State-level Implementation Plans

Each state/union territory prepares a detailed implementation plan based on local needs and requirements.
These plans outline the strategy for achieving the mission's objectives within the specified timelines.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Regular monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are established to assess the progress of the mission.
Performance indicators are used to track the implementation, coverage, and quality of water supply in rural areas.

Impact and Benefits

Improved Health and Hygiene

The mission aims to provide clean drinking water, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases and improving overall health and hygiene in rural areas.

Women Empowerment

Access to piped water connections reduces the burden on women and girls, who traditionally bear the responsibility of fetching water from distant sources.

Time and Productivity Savings

Availability of tap water connections saves time and effort, allowing individuals to engage in productive activities, education, and skill development.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q) Consider the following statements:

The central government funds 70% of the cost for the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war led to the delay in the implementation of Har Ghar Jal initiative

Select the correct answer using the codes below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jal-jeevan-mission-falling-short-of-2024-target/article67029959.ece