Village panels should be formed to implement JJM: Ministry

After the experimental move of framing 'Village Water and Sanitation Committee' for providing piped potable water connections to every rural household under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) turned out to be successful in several bordered states like Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Arunachal Pradesh, the Jal Shakti Ministry has other states to prepare a plan as well as constitute a committee to implement JJM.

New Delhi: In a recent push by Jal Shakti Ministry which has been implementing the flagship government programme to provide functional tap water connection to every rural household under Jal Jeevan Mission, asked states to frame 'Village Water and Sanitation Committee' (VWSC) to attain desired results under the mission.

After the experimental move of framing VWSC was successful in several bordered states like Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Arunachal Pradesh, the government is firm on widening it in other states.

The JJM—a centrally sponsored project—aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by 2024.

"Earlier, the Government had asked women to take part in the VWSC committee to implement JJM. But, now asks local body members, weaker sections of the society to be the part of the mission," a senior officer said.

Recently, when Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat interacted with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, he learned that around 1800 out of 6,200 villages have formed VWSC to devise the village action plan.

The minister who was delighted with the move has urged concerned officials to direct other states to take up this issue.

"The VWSC will have 50% of women. Of them, 25% would be the elected representatives and 25% from the weaker sections including Dalits and Tribes," the officials added.

This decision was also taken after several states had cried foul that panchayat representatives were kept away from the mission works.

"Several parties from many states including Tamil Nadu had said that the collectors are handling the release of funds. The accusation was that Funds were directly provided to Executive Officers of local bodies. So, the VWSC with the participation elected representatives has been brought. This committee will suggest the plan, design and implementation and operation of JJM," sources noted.

It is noted the Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the mission during his last Independence Day speech that JJM will be implemented at a cost of Rs.3.50 lakh crores to provide FTHC by 2024.

The Ministry, which aims to achieve 50% of its target at the end of 2021, had recently claimed that about 45 lakh tap connections have given in this Unlock phase 1 period. It further added that about 85.43 lakh FHTC has been given in rural India since August 2019.