'Jal Mitan-Yuva Udyami (Young Entrepreneur)' Entrepreneurship Development Program

• 13 Jun 2023

Why in News?

On June 12, 2023, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched the first-of-its-kind and unique program 'Jal Mitan-Yuva Udyami' entrepreneurship skill development project for the operation & sustainable maintenance of drinking water schemes in rural areas of Chhattisgarh at a program organized at the Chief Minister's residence.

Key Points:

• Under this, Jal Jeevan Mission and UNICEF were started for the availability of efficient water harvesting in rural areas. Under this programme, there is a target to provide skill development training to 58 thousand rural youth in the state.
• Under this programme, 21-day residential training is being given to the rural youth in water quality testing services, tap-pipe fitting repairing, Aro Fitting-Repairing, electrical fitting-repairing, solar panel fitting-repairing, pump operator service etc.
• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel & Public Health Engineering Minister Guru Rudra Kumar provided free tool kits to 90 Jal Mitan and young entrepreneurs who received training as a symbol in the programme.
• Safety shoes, helmets and equipment etc. have been given to the youth in a tool kit worth Rs 15,000. 540 youths and 90 young entrepreneurs of the state have been given high level residential training for 21 days.
• Addressing the program, the Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh is the first state in the country, where a large number of rural youth are being trained for operation & maintenance of drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission and they have been trained as Jal Mitan, young entrepreneurs and preparations are being made for the maintenance & operation of schemes in the form of Jal Didi.
• The Chief Minister said that under the 'Jal Jeevan Mission', a target has been set to provide tap water connections to 50 lakh households in rural areas of Chhattisgarh, under which tap connections have been given to 24 lakh households so far.
• Secretary, Public Health Engineering Department, Dr. S. Bharathidasan said that for the maintenance and operation of many tap-water schemes in the state, under the 'Jal Jeevan Mission', with the help of UNICEF, a target has been set to train 58,000 youths as Jal Mitan in the entire state. Out of which 11,000 youths have been trained on the recommendation of Gram Panchayats.
• UNICEF's Water & Sanitation Hygiene Specialist Ms. Shweta Patnaik said that Chhattisgarh is the first state in the country to start 'Jal Mitan' programme. This program has been started to ensure permanent maintenance of water supply schemes at the panchayat level in Chhattisgarh. The program is based on the concept of 'One Stop Solution' for maintenance of drinking water structures through multi-skilling and entrepreneurship models.