Jal Jeevan Mission: Progress, Challenges, and the Way Forward

Context: 

This editorial is based on the news “ Securing India’s water future – Opinion News” which was published in the Financial Express. Inadequate rainfall, dwindling Cauvery levels and depleting borewells have culminated into Bengaluru facing a severe water crisis. 

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A Crucial Scheme to Increase water accessibility

• Jal Jeevan Mission is an Umbrella scheme of the central government  to provide access to tap water in rural India. 
• Budget allocation for 2023-2024:  The Government has allocated 70,000 crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission, while the Interim Budget for 2024-25 has announced 70,163 crore for the same. 
• Achievements: Jal Jeevan Mission having successfully provided tap water connections to 142.5 million rural households (almost 74%) of a total of 192.6 million till date, as per government data.

Challenges Within Jal Jeevan Mission

• Budget and Implementation challenges in some states.
• Operation and maintenance (O&M) of the infrastructure being created under the programmes: taps and pipes will eventually break and will need repairs.
• Ensuring that water flows continuously through these taps: India will achieve universal coverage at some point, the concern will shift towards ensuring that water flows continuously through these taps.
• Depleting Groundwater reservoirs: groundwater that supplies water for most of these schemes may dry up or get contaminated.

Features of Jal Jeevan Mission

• Encouraging community engagement: A decentralised, community-based approach is needed for local ownership and sustainable management of water for ensuring sustainable and equitable access to services. 
• Funding Pattern Under Jal Jeevan Mission:  JJM asks the local communities to contribute 5-10% of the total capital cost towards the water supply infrastructure in the village, depending on the terrain and the social demographics to emphasise and encourage a sense of community ownership.
• Jal Bandhus: Training water user committees and developing a network of ‘Jalabandhu’ mobile mechanics has already proven to be effective in maintaining and repairing water points across the country.
•  Art as a medium of spreading Awareness: Art and theatre can be used to promote safe water, sanitation, and hygiene practices. The school children should be encouraged  to participate in community-level awareness initiatives and take ownership of water and sanitation facilities.  

Solutions to Mitigate Water Crisis in India

• Managing access to groundwater: as a common pool resource for fair and transparent allocations for multiple uses.  
• Preserving freshwater ecosystems is crucial for maintaining the water balance and supporting biodiversity: Rejuvenation of water bodies and afforestation around catchment areas can enhance water availability and quality. 
• Private Sector involvement: The private sector can play an important role for providing these services under a common standards framework. 
• Collective and collaborative onus: Simple precautions such as disposing chemicals safely; using fertilisers judiciously; turning off taps after use; checking for leaky taps and getting them fixed; and acquiring and spreading water education are significant. 

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