CM Pema Khandu reiterates 100% implementation of JJM ahead of national target

 OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday reiterated 2023 as the year of cent percent implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in the state, a year ahead of the national target set for 2024. Giving away awards to various Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSC), Implementation Support Agencies (ISA), Block Resource Coordinators (BRC), Lab Assistants, and Jal Sathis during a review meeting on JJM and Swatch Bharat Abhiyan (SBM) here, Khandu lauded the Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Department, the nodal agency implementing JJM and SBM in the state, for the achievements made so far. He especially thanked the VWSCs, ISAs, BRCs, lab technicians, and Jal Sathis working at the village level for the successful implementation of the JJM, as an official communiqué informed here. “The recognition you have earned in the shape of these awards will inspire others to work dedicatedly at all levels and make the dream of ‘Har Ghar Jal’ a success,” he said.

Khandu hailed the JJM scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 with a vision to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India. “The mission includes source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation, rainwater harvesting, etc., based on a community approach to water,” he informed. After an extensive review of the status of JJM and SBM in the state with department officials, Khandu assured government support to cover the left-out villages within this year. On being informed of the few health centres, schools, and anganwadi centres yet to be covered under the programme, he directed the PHE&WS officials to hold a meeting with the planning, health, and education departments as early as possible and chalk out a way forward for saturation of JJM.

Khandu suggested the department concentrate on villages by encouraging and providing for the VWSCs, ISAs, BRCs, and Jal Sathis. He said encouragement through awards and recognitions would hugely boost the morale of the ‘foot soldiers’ working at the grassroot level. “Successful implementation of JJM and SBM depends solely on these village-level agencies and agents,” he said. Several key issues were discussed during the review meeting, including physical and financial achievements, additional support required from the state government, left-out schools and anganwadi centres, etc.

As a part of the meeting, Khandu, along with Rural Development Minister Bamang Felix, PHE&WS Minister Wangki Lowang, and Advisor to PHE&WS Lokam Tassar, released a Handbook for the operation and maintenance of the in-village water supply system by the community. An awareness video on the Arunachal Pradesh Protection of Drinking Water Catchment Areas Act was also launched by the chief minister.

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