The Union Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has made it a high priority to link every rural home in the country to running water. The Government of India has granted Rs 169.60 crore to Meghalaya in order to speed up the execution of the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The State has been allotted a federal fund of Rs.678.39 crore for the execution of the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2021-22, which is over four times the amount allocated in 2020-21.
Out of the 5.90 lakh, rural household in the State of Meghalaya only 1.88 lakh households that is 31% of the rural population has a tap water connection. Hence the central government had desired to provide about 3.39 lakh of the local houses with a tap water connection in 2021-22. This has led the union government to give top priority to the Jal Jeevan Mission and has led to its decision to increase the budgetary allocations to Rs 92,309 Crore in 2021-22, from Rs 23,022 Crore in the preceding year.
Govt. Opened Above 2000 Water Quality Testing Facilities
With an emphasis on public health, the government has opened more than 2,000 water quality testing facilities around the state to the general people, allowing anyone to get their water samples analyzed anytime they want at a low cost. There are 31 such water testing laboratories in Meghalaya.
In all schools and Anganwadi centres, efforts are made to guarantee that tap water is available for drinking, preparing mid-day meals, washing hands, and using in toilets. As of date, 7,281 schools (55%) and 2,442 (53%) Anganwadi centres in Meghalaya have been provided with a tap water supply.
The Jal Jeevan Mission which was announced by Prime Minister Modi on the 15th of August 2019 is aimed at providing assured tap water supply to every rural home by 2024 and is currently being implemented in partnership with the states.
Source: PIB
