Context:
Recently, the Prime Minister launched the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative from Surat, Gujarat.
Relevance:
GS II: Government Policies and Interventions
Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Initiative
- Focus and Goals: The initiative prioritizes water conservation through the construction of about 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures across Gujarat.
- Collaborative Approach: Emphasizes a comprehensive involvement of both society and government in effective water management.
Water Challenges in India
- Water Scarcity: Despite housing 18% of the global population, India possesses only 4% of the world’s water resources.
- Groundwater Depletion: Reports indicate that 256 out of 700 districts face critical to over-exploited groundwater levels.
- Accessibility Issues: Rural women frequently travel over 2.5 kilometers to access water sources.
- Health Impact: Around 163 million Indians lack access to safe drinking water, correlating to 21% of communicable diseases.
Additional Water Conservation Efforts
- Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Expanded piped water connections dramatically, from 3 crore to over 15 crore households, covering more than 75% of the rural population.
- Amrit Sarovar Construction: Over 60,000 water bodies have been created to improve water storage and management.
- Catch The Rain Campaign: Encourages the development of Rain Water Harvesting Structures (RWHS) across various states to bolster water conservation efforts.
