Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
The Essence of the Scheme – “No One is Left Out”
Imagine you live in a rural village in India where fetching water involves walking several kilometres, often by women and children. Now, imagine that same home having a functional tap connection, delivering safe drinking water at the doorstep. This is not a dream—this is the vision of the Jal Jeevan Mission.
💡 JJM is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2019, aiming to ensure Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by 2024. Now extended to 2028
Core Objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission
Let us understand the mission’s goals:
- Access-Oriented:
- Provide FHTC to all rural households.
- Ensure piped water to schools, Anganwadi centres, and Gram Panchayat buildings.
- Ownership & Participation:
- Encourage voluntary community participation through shramdaan (contribution in kind, cash, or labor).
- Awareness:
- Educate people on the importance of safe drinking water.
Key Features – Where Policy Meets the People
| Feature | Description |
| 🏡 FHTC Defined | Tap water of adequate quantity, prescribed quality, and regularity. |
| 📍 Village Action Plan (VAP) | Each village creates a VAP focusing on: 1. Water sources 2. Grey water reuse 3. System maintenance |
| 👥 Paani Samitis (VWSCs) | Community-level committees managing water supply operations. |
| 🧪 Water Quality Testing | Regular testing at source and delivery points with public access to labs at affordable rates. |
| 💰 Fund Release Mechanism | Linked to: 1. Utilization of prior Central funds 2. Matching State share 3. Performance surveys |
| 🧠 Key Resource Centres (KRCs) | Institutions like think tanks and universities for training and technical support. |
| 🌟 National WASH Experts (NWEs) | Experts deployed for verification, star-rating villages, and providing feedback. |
Special Priorities – Where JJM is Most Needed
JJM is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ mission. It prioritizes:
- JE/AES-Affected Districts: Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome areas.
- Contaminated Regions: Areas with Arsenic, Fluoride, Iron, salinity, heavy metals in groundwater.
- Non-Revenue Water: Tackling water that is produced but not billed—wastage and leakage.
Institutional Support – Funding and Innovation
| Support Mechanism | Key Details |
| 💸 15th Finance Commission (FFC) | Rs. 2.36 lakh crore allocated to Panchayati Raj Institutions (2021–2026) for water and sanitation. |
| 🤝 Rural WASH Partners Forum (RWPF) | Encourages innovation via knowledge-sharing, new technology, and policy suggestions. |
| 🛠️ Nal Jal Mitra Programme (NJMP) | Trains locals as technicians to maintain and repair water infrastructure. |
Empowering Women – Backbone of JJM
“Water security empowers women”—JJM proves this both in spirit and structure.
| Domain | Initiative |
| ✅ Water Testing | Minimum 5 women per village trained in Field Test Kits (FTKs). |
| 👩🔧 Skill Development | Women trained as masons, plumbers, mechanics—breaking gender norms. |
| 🧩 Inclusive Governance | 50% reservation for women in Paani Samitis; proportionate inclusion of weaker sections. |
Transparency and Accountability – The Tech-Driven Approach
Let’s understand how JJM ensures delivery without leakages:
🔍 Monitoring Systems
- JJM-WQMIS: Tracks physical and financial progress in real time.
- IoT-Based Sensor Monitoring: Smart devices measure water supply flow and quality 24×7.
- PFMS Integration: Ensures every rupee is trackable through the Public Finance Management System.
💡 Enhanced Delivery Systems
- Geo-tagging of Assets: Location-based tracking of infrastructure (e.g., tanks, pipelines).
- Aadhaar Linkage: Household head’s Aadhaar linked to tap connections—ensuring targeted delivery.
- Mobile App: Enables field staff to upload real-time updates and resolve grievances.
- Third-Party Inspection (TPI): Independent agencies verify quality and materials—no fake reports.
Mission Progress – Has It Worked?
- Baseline in 2019: Only 17% rural households had tap connections.
- By 2025: Coverage rose to 79.59%—a remarkable transformation in just six years.
In Conclusion – What Makes JJM Special for UPSC?
- Integrated Approach: From infrastructure to empowerment, everything is covered.
- Decentralization: Gram Sabhas and Paani Samitis play a key role.
- Technological Backbone: Real-time dashboards, sensors, PFMS, geo-tagging.
- Social Equity: Prioritizes women, weaker sections, and most affected regions.
✅ UPSC Relevance Tip: JJM is important for GS II (Governance), GS III (Infrastructure, Economy, S&T), and Essay Paper. Also, link it with SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation.
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