Jal Jeevan Mission: More Than 16 Lakh Women Trained In Around 2 Lakh Villages To Check Rural Water Quality Using Field Test Kits

The Jal Jeevan Mission which is tasked with taking clean tap water to all households of India, has also ensured the creation of a ground level task force that can check the quality at every village level.

As per data from the year-end review release, in 2022-23, as of date, more than 27 lakh water samples have been tested in laboratories that have now also been opened for the public for testing water samples at nominal rates.

There are a total of 2,074 water testing laboratories in the country. Of these, 1,005 are National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited.

And women are leading this effort at the rural level.

At least five women in every village are being trained to use Field Test Kits (FTKs) for testing water quality at the village level. So far, more than 16.21 lakh women have been trained in 1.95 lakh villages.

During the FY 2022-23, more than 57.99 lakh water samples have been tested using FTKs, said the review report.

Government of India has released Rs 22,975.34 crore to 21 eligible states, for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in the financial year 2022-23, so far.

As on 21 December 2022, more than 10.76 crore (55.62 per cent) of rural households are being provided with tap water connection in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality on regular basis.

While Goa, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana and 3 Union Territories of Puducherry; Daman and Diu; Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, reported as Har Ghar Jal, Punjab (99.93 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (97.17 per cent) and Bihar (95.76 per cent) are on the verge of achieving that status.

Among others, the effort of taking clean water to households has resulted in a massive drop in water borne diseases.

“As per the report from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), with the availability of safe and potable drinking water at the doorstep of every rural household, the water-borne disease has been drastically reduced“ says the release.

From 177 lakh in 2019, to 89 lakh in 2020, the number of reported cases of water-borne diseases is down to 59 lakh in 2021.