JalJeevanSamvad-April-2022-en

Jal Jeevan Samvad – April 2022 presents the progress, implementation experiences and field-level initiatives under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), with a focus on ensuring safe, adequate and sustainable drinking-water supply to rural households. The issue provides updated information on Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) coverage across States and Union Territories, including coverage of rural households, schools and Anganwadi Centres. The publication reports that tap-water coverage had increased from 3.23 crore rural households (17%) at the launch of the Mission to 9.49 crore (49.10%) by April 2022. A major theme of this edition is groundwater source sustainability and water security. It explains the importance of maintaining groundwater resources for present and future needs and discusses groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, rejuvenation of water bodies, watershed/springshed approaches and other measures for sustainable drinking-water sources. The issue also highlights water audits as a tool for water security, along with State-level experiences from Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha and Rajasthan. These stories demonstrate how JJM is improving access to drinking water while addressing local water scarcity, source sustainability and community needs. Particular emphasis is given to women's participation and empowerment in rural water management. The publication showcases women's involvement in water-related activities, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), village institutions and community initiatives. The Maharashtra case, for example, describes how women in a water-stressed village were affected by unreliable water sources and how a community-based filtration initiative helped address water-quality and availability concerns. The edition also documents villages achieving Har Ghar Jal status. The Bandalkona case in Meghalaya describes the transformation from dependence on untreated and distant water sources to safe and adequate household tap-water supply. Similarly, the Madhya Pradesh section highlights community celebrations through Kalash Yatras following achievement of Har Ghar Jal status. The publication further covers JJM action on the ground, including field visits, community mobilization, Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC) capacity building, water-quality testing through Field Testing Kits (FTKs), source strengthening, greywater management, rainwater harvesting and convergence with other programmes. The edition also records national and international water-sector engagements, including the 4th Asia Pacific Water Summit at Kumamoto, Japan, where water conservation, sustainable development, innovative water technologies and decentralised wastewater treatment were discussed.