JalJeevanSamvad-February-2023-en

About Dataset

Jal Jeevan Samvad – 29th Edition, February 2023 is a monthly publication of the National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) that documents the progress, policy priorities, implementation initiatives, innovations, State-level experiences and field activities associated with the Jal Jeevan Mission. A major focus of this edition is the progress towards providing Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to all rural households. As reported in the publication, by 28 February 2023, 11.31 crore rural households (58.43%) had tap-water connections, compared with 3.23 crore households (17%) at the commencement of the Mission. The issue also presents comparative FHTC coverage across States and Union Territories and reports Har Ghar Jal status at district, block, panchayat and village levels. The edition features an “In Conversation” section with the Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, on the objective of connecting all rural households with tap water by 2024. It discusses handholding and technical support to States, water-quality testing, community-level operation and maintenance, financing, and the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen. A prominent theme is Jal Shakti Abhiyan – Catch the Rain 2023, with “Source Sustainability for Drinking Water” identified as its central theme. The issue explains the importance of water conservation, groundwater and spring sustainability, rainwater harvesting, water-body management and community participation in sustaining drinking-water sources. It notes that a substantial proportion of rural tap-water schemes depend on groundwater and that springs are particularly important in North-Eastern and Himalayan areas. The publication also highlights women as agents of change in the water and sanitation sector. The Additional Secretary & Mission Director's note links International Women's Day and World Water Day themes with JJM, emphasising women's participation in the management of in-village water-supply systems and their transition from water collectors to community leaders. It also stresses IEC and capacity-building activities for making “Har Ghar Nal se Shudh Jal” sustainable in the long term. The edition contains State-specific case studies and good practices from Mizoram, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Ladakh and Tripura. These cover progress in FHTC coverage, source sustainability, the impact of water meters, improved water accessibility in difficult winter conditions, and innovative community-led approaches involving women's groups. The issue also reports meetings, conferences, international cooperation and field-level implementation activities, including the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership in the water sector, Union Budget 2023-24 allocation for JJM, review of the Swachh Jal Se Suraksha campaign, pending project clearances from agencies such as Railways and NHAI, Jal Jeevan Survekshan 2023, and the Union Minister's participation in World Bank Water Week 2023. The “JJM: Action on the Ground” section documents field visits and implementation reviews in States such as Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, including assessment of multi-village schemes, construction quality, water-quality testing, Field Test Kits, community institutions and implementation challenges. The publication also records visits by National WASH Experts across 13 priority States and 307 villages.