The Ministry of Jal Shakti is in the process of assessing the progress made by all the States & Union Territories towards achievement of the goal of universal coverage under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), which is the flagship programme of Union Government.
JJM aims to provide tap water connection to every rural household of the country by the year 2024. To assess the progress of implementation, a mid-year review is underway through video conferencing. All States and UTs are presenting the status of the provision of tap water connection to rural households and the institutional mechanisms in place and the way forward to ensure universal coverage under JJM.
Today, Sikkim has presented their mid-term progress to the National Jal Jeevan Mission. It has around 1.05 lakh households, out of which 70,525 (67%) households have tap water connections. Sikkim has planned to provide 100% tap connections in all households by the 2021-22. The State also has a good water supply infrastructure and has water supply schemes in 411 villages.
The State plans to saturate all the SC or ST dominated villages and villages in aspirational districts by year 2020-21. Out of the villages with PWS systems, only 81 have achieved the status ‘Har Ghar Jal’ Village. By giving 7,798 tap water connections, around 211 more villages will become 100% tap connections enabled. State needs to plan to complete this task at earliest, so that all PWS Villages become 100 percent saturated with tap water connections.
The issues that were highlighted in the meeting were preparation of Village Action Plan, constitution of Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC). Emphasis was given on engaging voluntary organizations, NGOs, women SHGs as implementation support agencies to handhold the local community for planning, implementation and operation & maintenance of water supply systems.
State was asked to organize training for capacity building of Gram Panchayat functionaries and other stakeholders and also to focus on skill development training in villages to create a pool of trained human resources at village level, which will be very helpful in implementation as well O&M of water supply systems. To carry out the mandatory chemical testing and bacteriological testing of drinking water sources, was also advised to the state.
Sikkim has been allocated Rs 31.36 Crore for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission, in 2020-21. Out of which Rs 7.84 Crore has been released. The State has to expedite their fund utilization to avail the second tranche of first release. It has also been allocated Rs 42 Crore under 15th Finance Commission Grants to rural local bodies and 50% of it is to be used for water supply and sanitation i.e. water supply, grey-water treatment and re-use and most importantly for ensuring long-term operation and maintenance of water supply schemes.
Sikkim is also known for its substantial water resources. However, rapid population growth and urbanisation are affecting the water both in quantitative and qualitative ways. The State has a good water supply system in place. There is a need to capitalise on it so as to ensure every rural home of the State gets tap water connection, and thus improving the lives of people.
