STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Jayanta Mallabaruah, Minister of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), on Wednesday launched a mobile app named 'Jal Sarothi' to enable women self-help groups (SHG)s under the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM) to seamlessly conduct the functional assessment of 25 lakh functional household tap connections (FHTCs) across Assam.
The Minister also launched the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) theme song at a function at the Sri Sri Madhavadev International Auditorium of the Srimanta Sankaradev International Convention Centre, Guwahati.
The song emphasizes the salient points of Jal Jeevan Mission, Assam and is expected to spread awareness about the ongoing and completed works of JJM Assam.
Apart from the theme song, Mallabaruah released a handbook on the operation and maintenance of piped water supply schemes (PWSS). The handbook was developed as per the guidance of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, with the aim of enabling the grass-root based water user committees, also known as the Pani Samities, to perform their duties as laid down under the guideline of Jal Jeevan Mission. The handbook is expected to work as a guide to various problems that may arise during the day-to-day functioning of the water supply schemes under JJM, and ensure its efficient management.
The mobile application, on the other hand, has been developed to assess the functionality, quantity, quality and regularity of FHTCs by identified SHG members while creating mass awareness in their locality. The app will also enable the SHGs to geo-tag the FHTC already provided. It will also help Jal Jeevan Mission to access water quality with empirical data samples of the quality of water supplied through FHTCs as well as already existent water sources through test done with Field Testing Kits at 10 per cent of randomly selected FHTCs.
The theme song is based on Assamese folk music forms while portraying the rich cultural heritage of the State. The lyrics depict the importance of clean drinking water for a healthier society. The whole project of producing the theme song was executed under leadership of Member of Parliament Pabitra Margherita and Pramod Kalita, secretary of Publication Board, Assam.
Speaking on the occasion, Mallabaruah said, "For the longevity of the scheme under Jal Jeevan Mission and to ensure that the people receive 55 litres of potable water, the participation of the beneficiaries is of utmost importance".
The Minister added, 'The theme song, handbook and mobile app developed to conduct the functional assessment of FHTCs will create the awareness expected to enable the beneficiaries to participate in the successful operation and maintenance of the schemes."
The function was also graced by Kailash Karthik N, Mission Director, JJM and Secretary PHED, Krishna Baruah, State Mission Director, ASRLM, Promod Kalita, BM Roy, Chief Engineer (Sanitation) (i/c), PHED, DK Baruah, Chief Engineer (Water) (i/c), PHED, and other dignitaries.
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