Jal Jeevan Yojana (JJY)

Introduction 

The Government of India's flagship programme, Jal Jeevan Yojana (JJY), was introduced in 2019 with the goal of providing water lines to every village home by 2024. The program's main goal is to provide all households in rural India with access to clean and sufficient drinking water, therefore solving the issue of water shortage there.

By 2024, every rural home in the nation will have access to functional household tap connections (FHTCs) thanks to the Jal Jeevan Yojana. Over 15 crore households are expected to be covered by the programme, which is expected to cost about Rs 3.5 lakh crore. The federal government works with the states to conduct the programme, and the states get financial support from the federal government to do so.

The Jal Jeevan Yojana is a vital part of the government's initiatives to guarantee that all residents have access to clean and safe drinking water. A fundamental right is to have access to clean, sufficient drinking water, and the Jal Jeevan Yojana seeks to uphold this right for the rural population in the country. 

Goals of the Jal Jeevan Yojana

Every rural home in the nation will have enough and clean drinking water thanks to the Jal Jeevan Yojana. The following steps are taken by the plan to accomplish this goal:

• Offering FHTCs (functional household tap connections) to each and every rural household in the nation.

• Utilising a demand-driven strategy to ensure the long-term viability of rural water supply systems.

• Fostering engagement of the community in water management and conservation.

• Promoting the use of cutting-edge technology and creative approaches to manage and save water.

• For the project to be sustainable, a database of all rural homes having access to piped water supply should be created.

Jal Jeevan Yojana Benefits

JJY has several advantages. The health and wellness of rural people will be significantly impacted by the availability of safe and sufficient drinking water. Cholera, typhoid, and other watery illnesses like diarrhoea will become less common as a result.

The programme will increase rural households' output by reducing the time that women and children must spend travelling great distances to get water. The level of living in rural regions will also rise with the availability of piped water supplies.

The JJY will also advocate for water efficiency and conservation. It will assist in developing a long-term water delivery system that will meet the demands of rural populations.

Adoption of the Jal Jeevan Yojana

The Jal Jeevan Yojana is being implemented gradually, with an emphasis on the regions with the least water availability. The federal government works with the states to conduct the programme, and the states get financial support from the federal government to do so.

The factors that follow crucial actions are necessary for the Jal Jeevan Yojana's implementation

Creation of the Village Action Plan (VAP)

The creation of the Village Action Plan (VAP) is the first stage in the execution of the programme. The VAP, which specifies the strategy for the scheme's execution in the village, is created by the Gramme Panchayat after consulting among the local population.

Identification of water sources

The next stage is to determine where the village's water comes from. This may refer to groundwater sources, surface water sources, or a mix of the two.

Construction of the infrastructure for the water supply

After the water sources have been located, construction of the infrastructure for the water distribution comes next. This might entail building water-purification facilities, installing pipes, and building tanks used for storage.

Installation of household tap connections

The setting up of household tap lines is the last phase. Every home in the community is given a functional household tap connection (FHTC) after the construction of the water distribution infrastructure.

Problems with Jal Jeevan Yojana implementation

JJY's implementation is not without difficulties. The accessible nature of finances is one of the major issues. The government must make sure that the funds are allotted and distributed in a timely manner because the programme demands a considerable amount of financing.

The availability of skilled labour is a key barrier as well. There is a need for trained labour to complete the many technical and operational parts of the JJY execution. The government must make sure that local communities and other stakeholders receive the appropriate training and resources for capacity building.

The programme also has difficulties with regard to the supply of water sources. To establish a sustainable water delivery system in some locations where water sources are scarce, the government must investigate alternate water supplies including rainwater gathering and groundwater recharging.

The upkeep of the water supply infrastructure presents difficulties for the programme as well. The correct upkeep of the water supply systems is essential to the program's survival. The government must make sure that the required instruction and assistance are given to the VWSCs because they will be in charge of maintaining the systems.

Another significant challenge is the involvement of the original community. The success of the program depends on the involvement and participation of the original community. The government needs to insure that the original community is involved in all aspects of the program, from planning to implementation and conservation.

Conclusion

Every rural home in the nation will have access to clean and sufficient drinking water thanks to the Jal Jeevan Yojana, a crucial programme. The compilation of Village Action Plans, the discovery of water sources, the development of a water supply infrastructure, and the installation of household tap connections are all milestones in the lengthy process of implementing the system.

Since the program's inception, more than 8.6 crore rural families have received tap water connections. This is a considerable advancement. The government is committed to completing the program's implementation by 2024, when it aims to have piped water supply available to every rural family. The program's implementation has quickened recently.

The Jal Jeevan Yojana is an important step in alleviating the country's water shortage issue and guaranteeing access to clean and sufficient drinking water, which is a fundamental right. All parties, including the government, communities, and civil society organisations, must be included for the plan to be implemented successfully.