JalJeevanSamvad-December-2021-en

Jal Jeevan Samvad – December 2021, Issue XV presents a comprehensive account of the progress and implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission during 2021. The issue documents the expansion of Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs), coverage of schools and Anganwadi Centres, and progress towards the goal of Har Ghar Jal. As reported in the issue, by 31 December 2021, tap water connections had reached about 8.75 crore rural households, representing around 45.5% coverage, with several States/UTs, districts, blocks, panchayats and villages achieving 100% FHTC coverage. The publication gives particular emphasis to water quality and public health. It highlights water-quality testing through laboratories and Field Test Kits (FTKs), the Water Quality Management Information System (WQMIS), training of women in villages for water-quality surveillance, and the need to link water-quality monitoring with disease surveillance for improved public health outcomes. A major focus is on source sustainability and long-term assured service delivery. The issue discusses sustainability of drinking-water sources and systems, greywater collection and treatment, reuse of wastewater, solar energy for reducing electricity expenditure, and community participation in operation and maintenance. The issue also showcases community-led implementation and local leadership through Village Action Plans (VAPs), Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs), Pani Samitis and Gram Sabhas. It records that VAPs had been prepared for 3.5 lakh villages and VWSCs/Pani Samitis had been constituted and made functional in more than 4.5 lakh villages. Local youth were also being trained as masons, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, fitters and pump operators. The publication contains several State-level case studies and good practices, including experiences from Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir. These demonstrate women's participation, water-quality monitoring, community contribution, greywater management, awareness campaigns and local ownership of rural water-supply systems. The issue also covers capacity building and training through Key Resource Centres (KRCs), including training on sustainable greywater management and reuse, drinking-water source sustainability, water-quality monitoring and surveillance. Further, the publication documents JJM action on the ground, including National Jal Jeevan Mission field visits to States, review of implementation, interactions with Gram Panchayats, VWSCs and communities, planning and saturation approaches, grievance redressal and improvement of implementation processes. The issue also highlights IEC and community engagement, including the partnership between Jal Jeevan Mission and MyGov to raise awareness and collect community testimonials about the impact of tap water supply.