97 lakh families got tap water supply in 22 months in five states affected by encephalitis

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on providing clean tap water to every household in Japanese Encephalitis – Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (JE-AES) affected areas on priority, Jal Jeevan Mission has implemented the Jal Jeevan Mission in just 22 months in 61 priority districts affected by Encephalitis. Tap water has been supplied to more than 97 lakh families. Thus, the Jal Jeevan Mission has significantly strengthened preventive measures to reduce the spread of the disease by providing clean tap water supply to economically poor households in the affected districts of Assam, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. has done. On August 15, 2019, when the Jal Jeevan Mission was announced, only 8.02 lakh (2.67%) households in 61 Japanese Encephalitis – Acute Encephalitis Syndrome affected districts across five states had tap water supply. In the last 22 months, 97.41 lakh additional households in these districts have been provided with tap water connections. Now 1.05 crore (35%) families are getting supply of tap water in the districts affected by the disease. This increase of 32% in household tap water connections in priority districts affected by Japanese Encephalitis – Acute Encephalitis Syndrome is nearly 12% higher than the national average increase of 23.43% in tap water supply across the country during the same period.
For priority districts affected by Japanese Encephalitis – Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, specific funds are allocated on the basis of drinking water sources and extent of water pollution. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, 0.5% of the budget is allocated for carrying out activities for providing potable drinking water to every rural household in the priority districts affected by the disease. These five states have been allocated Rs 462.81 crore as JE-AES (Japanese Encephalitis – Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) component for 2021-22.

Japanese Encephalitis- Acute encephalitis syndrome is a serious health threat. The disease mostly affects children and young adults and can lead to morbidity and death. These infections particularly affect malnourished children from poor economic backgrounds. 61 high priority districts in five states have been identified for strengthening prevention and control measures through five central ministries with the nodal ministry of the ministry of health and family welfare. Jal Jeevan Mission is an important program to reduce the burden of disease in these districts.
Following the Prime Minister’s principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, the motto of the mission is that no one is left behind and the goal is to provide tap water to every household in every village. At the start of the mission in 2019, only 3.23 crore (17%) of the total 19.20 crore rural households in the country had access to tap water. During the last 22 months, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown disruptions, the Jal Jeevan Mission has been swiftly implemented and 4.44 crore households have been provided with tap water connections. With an increase of 23% in coverage, at present 7.67 crore (40.51%) rural households across the country are getting tap water supply. Goa, Telangana, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Puducherry have achieved the target of 100% household connections in rural areas and the dream of every household has become a reality. Realizing the Prime Minister’s dream of supplying clean tap water to every household, at present tap water is available in every household in 69 districts and more than 98 thousand villages of the country.

In his letters to the Chief Ministers of Assam, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, on priority by the Prime Minister, in the next few months, Japanese Encephalitis – Acute Encephalitis Syndrome affected districts, SC/ST dominated We have been reiterating the emphasis on providing tap water connection to every household in villages and quality affected areas.

Among these five states, Bihar has performed well in providing tap water supply to rural households in its 15 disease-affected priority districts. On an average, 85.53 percent tap water connections have been provided in these districts. Nalanda has 96% tap water supply connections, followed by Saran and Gopalganj (94%), Vaishali and Siwan (91%), West Champaran (84%), and East Champaran (80%) as the best performing districts in the state. To ensure safe tap water to children in schools, ashramshalas and Anganwadi centers in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a 100-day campaign. It was launched by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 2 October 2020. As a result, states/UTs like Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andaman and Nicobar Islands have provided tap water in schools, ashramshalas and Anganwadi centres. In Assam and West Bengal, the number of schools and anganwadi centers with tap water supply is less than the national average.

As against the national average of 65 percent schools and 60 percent Anganwadi centers, 30 percent of schools and 8 percent of Anganwadi centers in Assam and 14 percent of schools and 7 percent of Anganwadi centers in West Bengal have tap water supply. Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in his letters to the Chief Ministers of Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal has appealed to ensure safe tap water in all the remaining schools, ashramshalas and Anganwadi centers in the next few months. .

The Prime Minister had announced the Jal Jeevan Mission from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, 2019. This mission is being implemented in partnership with States/UTs to provide tap water connection to every rural household in the country by 2024. A total budget of Rs 50,011 crore has been set for the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2021-22. With an amount of Rs 26,940 crore as 15th Finance Commission affiliated grant to RLBs/PRIs for the state’s own resources and water and sanitation, more than Rs 1 lakh crore is being invested in the sector of rural drinking water supply this year. is. This is creating new employment opportunities in the villages and strengthening the rural economy.