Chief Minister Pema Khandu today reiterated 2023 as the year of cent percent implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Arunachal Pradesh, an year ahead of the national target set at 2024.
Giving away awards to various Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSC), Implementation Support Agencies (ISA), Block Resource Coordinators (BRC), Lab Assistants and Kal Sathis during a review meeting on JJM and Swatch Bharat Abhiyan (SBM) held here this morning, Khandu lauded the Public health Engineering & Water Supply department, the nodal agency implementing JJM and SBM in the state, for the achievements made so far.
He especially thanked the VWSCs, ISAs, BRCs, lab technicians and Jal Sathis working at the village level for successful implementation of the JJM.
“The recognition you have earned in the shape of these awards will inspire others to work dedicatedly at all levels and make the dream of ‘har ghar jal’ a success,” he said.
Khandu hailed the JJM scheme launched by Prime Narendra Modi in 2019 with a vision to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.
“The mission includes source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation, rain water harvesting, etc based on a community approach to water,” he informed.
Taking an extensive review of the status of JJM and SBM in the state with department officials, Khandu assured government support to cover left out villages within this year.
On being informed of few health centres, schools and anganwadi centres yet to be covered under the program, he directed the PHE&WS officials to hold a meeting with the Planning, Health and Education departments as early as possible and chalk out a way forward for saturation of JJM.
Khandu suggested the department to concentrate on villages by encouraging and providing for the VWSCs, ISAs, BRCs and Jal Sathis. He said encouragement through awards and recognitions would hugely boost morals of the ‘foot soldiers’ working at the grassroot level.
“Successful implementation of JJM and SBM depend solely on these village level agencies and agents,” he said.
Several key issues were discussed during the review meet including physical and financial achievements, additional support required from the state government, left out schools and anganwadi centres, etc.
As a part of the meeting, Khandu along with rural Development Minister Bamang Felix, PHE&WS Minister Wangki Lowang and Advisor to PHE&WS Lokam Tassar released a Handbook for operation & maintenance of in-village water supply system by community. An awareness video on Arunachal Pradesh Protection of Drinking Water Catchment Areas Act was also launched by the CM.
Award Winners:
1- VWSC, Ozakho
2- VWSC, Silli, Likabali
3- VWSC, Kugi Pomte, Aalo
4- Patkai Hills Welfare Society, Khonsa
5- Veikhi ISA, Bomdila
6- Bomi Ane ISA, Bizari
7- Ngoglin Ngongwa, Khonsa division
8- Sanjay Mishra, Bomdila division
9- Pasak Ratan, Longding division
10- Devraj Sharma, Yingkiong division
11- Hangren Ngotan, Changlang division
12- Takiat Tatin, Pangin division
13- Tadu Pujen, Mechuka division
14- Ling Burang, Yingkiong division
15- Chukhu Sheela, Yupia division
