Lok Sabha Question No. 2834 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-12
Subject: Community-based approach for Resolving Water Crisis
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2834

ANSWERED ON 12.12.2024

## COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH FOR RESOLVING WATER CRISIS

## 2834. SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Government  has  a  plan  to  promote  community-based  approaches  for  resolving water crisis to liberate the women fetching water from distant source;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof along with the initiatives taken/proposed to be taken by the Government keeping in view the fact that the country holds only four per cent of the water resources which makes it one of the most water-deficient regions in the world; and
- (c)   if not, the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a) to (c) Since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with States is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal to make provision of potable water to every rural household of the country, through functional tap water connection i.e. at a service level of 55 litre per capita per day (lpcd), of prescribed quality (BIS:10500), on regular and long-term basis.

Significant progress has been made in the country since the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission, towards enhancing access to tap water for rural households. At the start of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 3.23 Crore (16.8%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 10.12.2024, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal around 12.12 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 10.12.2024, out of 19.35 Crore rural households in the country, around 15.35 Crore (79.30%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

To instill a sense of ownership among the rural communities and Panchayats, the aspects of village level planning and community participation in all decisions pertaining to water supply systems have been included in the design of JJM.

The  World  Health  Organization  (WHO)  has  estimated  that  achieving  saturation  of  tap  water coverage in rural households in the country will result in savings of more than 5.5 Crore hours of time every day, which is otherwise spent in collection of water for household needs, primarily by women.

## ANSWER

Some of the major initiatives taken up under the mission for participation of women are listed as under:

- More than 5.29 lakh sub-committee/ user group of the Gram Panchayats i.e. Village Water & Sanitation  Committee  (VWSC)  or  Pani  Samiti  with  at  least  50%  women  members  and suitable  representation  to  marginalized  sections  of  society,  have  been  constituted  to  plan, implement, manage, operate, and maintain in-village water supply system.
- Five  women  are  identified  and  trained  from  every  village  for  testing  the  water  samples through Field Test Kits (FTKs) and so far, 24.78 lakh women have been trained and so far, more than 74.17 lakh samples have been tested through FTKs in 2024-25.
- More than 14 thousand NGOs/ VOs/ Women SHGs/ CBOs/ Trusts/ Foundations referred as ISAs  are  engaged  across  the  country  to  facilitate  women  participation  at  all  levels  of planning,  implementation,  management,  operation  and  maintenance  of  in-village  water supply systems and contribution.

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