Operational Guidelines of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Released
The Prime Minister released the Operational Guidelines of JJM in a function organised at Vigyan Bhawan, which is observed as Good Governance, here day. The Operational Guidelines is tipped to help various functionaries involved in the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission. The Union Cabinet earlier of 13 August 2019 approved Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by 2024.
As per the available information, about 14.6 Crore out of 17.87 Crore rural households in the country, which accounts for 81.67% are yet to have household water tap connections. The total project cost is estimated to be about Rs 3.60 lakh Crore. The Centre’s share will be Rs.2.08 lakh Crore. The fund sharing pattern is to be 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States; 50:50 for other States and 100% for UTs.
The Guidelines
Considering above aspects, Operational Guidelines of Jal Jeevan Mission has been finalized. The salient features of the guidelines are as follows:
- Time bound completion of schemes taken up under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). No extension of time or cost escalation will be allowed except for the cost towards retrofitting the same to provide FHTCs.
- Priority to cover water quality affected habitations under JJM will be given.
- The following institutional arrangement has been proposed for implementation:
- National Jal Jeevan Mission at the Central level;
- State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) at State level;
- District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) at district level; and
- Gram Panchayat and/ or its sub-committees i.e. Village Water Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/ Paani Samiti at village Level.
- Extra budgetary resources will be made available for JJM and is proposed to be allocated along with Gross Budgetary Support among States/ UTs as per the allocation criteria.
- Good performance of the States/ UTs will be incentivized out of the fund not utilized by other States at the fag end of the financial year.
- The physical and financial progress of the mission is proposed to be monitored through IMIS and fund utilization through PFMS.
- Imbibing the spirit of 73rd Amendment of Constitution of India, Gram Panchayats or its sub-committees will play a crucial role in planning, designing, execution, operations and maintenance of the in-village infrastructure.
- Communities to be rewarded by providing 10% of the in-village infrastructure cost of the scheme which will be maintained by them as a revolving fund to meet any unforeseen expenditure due to break down, etc.
- In order to ensure faster implementation with ‘speed and scale’ in a time-bound manner for providing FHTC in every rural household by 2024, it is proposed to forge partnership with all stakeholders in water sector namely; voluntary organizations, sector partners, professionals in water sector, foundations and CSR arms of various corporates.
- The guidelines also propose that States will have a definite O&M policy especially to meet with the O&M requirements like monthly energy cost of the PWS scheme, by ensuring cost recovery from user groups and thereby avoiding any unwanted burden on public exchequer.
- JJM envisages a structural change in the provision of drinking water supply services. The service provision should change to ‘utility based approach’ centered on ‘service delivery’.
- Measuring water to ascertain the availability and the quality using sensors based IoT technologies is also proposed in the guidelines.
- Third party inspection is proposed to be undertaken before making any payment to instill accountability.
- Functionality assessment of the schemes implemented under JJM will be done by Department/ NJJM.
- The guidelines also list support activities like HRD, IEC, Skill Development, etc. to be taken up under JJM.
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