New Delhi: With an aim to ensuring the hundred per cent utilisation of water in rural India, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) have joined hands to inculcate locals on kitchen gardens through greywater management technique.
While Swachh Bharat Mission has been working for complete sanitisation across the country, Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide Full Household Tap Connection (FHTC) by 2024. Meanwhile, both the missions are having a common vision as they want to keep circumstances clean and grey water-free.
"We have attained 50% of JJM goal in several states like Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Maharastra with FHTCs. But, managing the water is still a challenge for the locals as they are unaware of managing the wastewater. As it would contaminate the environment, we have joined hands with SBM and sensitising locals on wastewater management," said a top officer with Jal Shakti Ministry.
According to the officer, Kitchen Garden's are the best way to manage the greywater in rural parts of the country.
READ:|How COVID-19 has made India’s foundational nutrition programme weaker
"While we have taken a survey, many families are draining the wastewater into their backyards after utilisation. After contamination, it eases mosquito breeding and may cause hazards. Therefore, JJM and SBM had decided to make families plant greeneries, vegetables, flower gardens in their backyards by irrigating the wastewater. It is very successful in several villages of Haryana, Jharkhand and Odisha," the officer said.
It is also noted the local rural NGOs, Village Action Plan Committee and environment activists are also collaborating with the JJM and SBM to implement greywater management.
In Odisha and Jharkhand, Gramvikas organisation is leading the greywater management projects.
The officer further added, "As the response for kitchen garden through greywater management is overwhelming, we are considering to make this as mandatory for JJM. As there are three phases in attaining FHTC including planning/designing, assessing the water quality and implementation with water management techniques, kitchen garden's will be encouraged in the third phase of the projects in all states."
