First 'Har Ghar Jal' State: Goa

• 17 Oct 2020

Why in News

Recently, Goa has become the first 'Har Ghar Jal' State in the country as it successfully provided 100% Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in the rural areas covering 2.30 lakh rural households.

Key Points

• Early Achiever: State's commitment and brisk efforts have ensured advancement and achievement of targets well before time, i.e. 2024 at national level.
• Annual Action Plan: Goa prepared the State's Annual Action Plan (AAP) to provide 100% Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in rural areas by 2021.
  
  • Goa utilized the benefits of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) which aims to improve the quality of life and bring 'ease-of-living' to rural communities.
  • Accordingly, fund allocation from the Union to Goa in 2020-21 has been increased to Rs. 12.40 Crore for the plan.
• Convergence of Schemes: The State explored through convergence of various programmes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), 15^th Finance Commission for rural local bodies, etc. for strengthening of drinking water sources, water supply, grey water (any domestic wastewater excluding sewage) treatment & re-use and operation & maintenance.
• Water Testing Facilities: The State is in process of getting 14 National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited water quality testing laboratories.
  
  • Jal Jeevan Mission mandates training 5 persons in every village especially women to be trained in using Field Test Kits, so that water can be tested in the villages.

Jal Jeevan Mission

• Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.
• JJM focuses on integrated demand and supply-side management of water at the local level.
  
  • Creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse, would be undertaken in convergence with other government programmes/schemes.
• The Mission is based on a community approach to water and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication as a key component of the mission.
• JJM looks to create a jan andolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority.
• Funding Pattern: The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories.
  
  • The total allocation to the scheme is over ₹3 lakh crore.

Way Forward

• Having achieved universal access, the State now plans for a sensor-based service delivery monitoring system so as to monitor the functionality of water supply i.e. potable water in adequate quantity and of prescribed quality.
• Goa’s achievement is an example for other States to emulate and ensure every rural home gets tap connection.
• Especially in these times of Covid-19 pandemic, it is all the more imperative to have assured safe water supply within households.
• This silent revolution happening in rural India in terms of household tap water connections is a work in progress for a ‘New India’.

Source PIB