Jal Jeevan Samvad October 2020

Jal Jeevan Samvad – October 2020 is the first issue of the publication of the National Jal Jeevan Mission, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. The publication provides an overview of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) and assured supply of potable drinking water in adequate quantity and prescribed quality on a regular and long-term basis to every rural household. It explains the Mission's vision, objectives, components, institutional arrangements, strategy and planning framework, and community-led approach. The issue highlights the shift from merely creating water-supply infrastructure to ensuring water service delivery, functionality and long-term sustainability. It describes the roles of Gram Panchayats, Village Water & Sanitation Committees/Paani Samitis, State and District Water & Sanitation Missions, Public Health Engineering Departments, Implementation Support Agencies, Key Resource Centres and sector partners. The publication also covers water quality monitoring and surveillance, drinking-water testing laboratories, the National Water Quality Sub-Mission, technology interventions, the ICT Grand Challenge, IoT-based monitoring, functionality assessment and the Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Kosh. It records major achievements of JJM during its first year, including expansion of rural tap-water connections and water-quality testing activities. A major section is devoted to the 100 Days Campaign for providing piped water supply to Anganwadi Centres, Ashramshalas and Schools, including drinking and cooking water, handwashing facilities, toilets, grey-water management, rainwater harvesting and water-saving measures. The issue also presents “Voices from the Field”, documenting experiences and success stories from Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and other locations. These stories demonstrate community participation, women's leadership, local operation and maintenance, water security and the impact of tap-water connections on rural life.