The Government of Madhya Pradesh is working tirelessly with full energy towards fulfilling the ambitious goal set by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to provide pure water through taps to every household. As a result of this, Madhya Pradesh is being awarded first prize in the Best State category in the fourth National Water Award.
Madhya Pradesh has been selected for the topspot in the Best State category of the National Water Award-2022 for better use of water resources, conservation and promotion of water structures. This award shows that Madhya Pradesh knows how to respect the gifts of nature.
It is worth mentioning that Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh has the distinction of being the country’s first cent percent Har Ghar water certified district under Jal Jeevan Mission.
The objective of the mission is to create long-term water resources, water conservation and water management in a sustainable manner with door-to-door access to drinking water through taps.
Better management of water, public awareness and public participation in conservation and promotion of water sources is acritical component of this mission.
So far, crores of citizens of 59 lakh 12 thousand 642 families in rural areas of Madhya Pradesh are getting tap water at home.
The pure water obtained from the tap to the rural people, along with health security, especially by providing relief to the women and daughters living in rural areas, is proving useful in their empowerment.
In the mission, villagers are also being apprised of proper utiligation of water along with conservation and promotion of water sources. It has also been given a formal form through the Village Water and Sanitation Committee.
There is 50 percent women participation in these committees. So far 31 thousand 175 village water and sanitation committees have been formed in Madhya Pradesh.
These committees are doing the work of proper management of water while working towards sustainable and viable use of water resources.
Overall, the Jal Jeevan Mission has become a mass movement for prosperity and empowerment of the citizens with drinking water facilities in the state. The words of women, daughters and senior citizens from every corner of the state will say the same.
Gone are the days to fetch water,now daughter will read and write
Uma Kirar, a resident of Mouch village of Bhitarwar Janpad Panchayat of Gwalior district, says that she has spent most of her life carrying water. I am not the only such rural woman.
There are many women like me, who have been wandering for water from generation to generation. I am happy that my daughter will not have to face this trouble. With the introduction of Nal-Jal Yojana, the colours of happiness have mixed in the atmosphere of our village.
In Mouch-Richhaira villages with a population of one and half thousand, tap water is now reaching 210 families through the Jal Jeevan Mission with a cost of about one crore through Nal Jal Yojana.
She further adds that it was beyond my dreams that I would ever get clean water from the tap in my house. Now not only me but my daughter also will not have to go anywhere to fetch water. Now she will read and write dedicately.
Water scarcity removed through Nal Jal
There are 425 families residing in the large village Jamunia of Dewas district. Here makingwater arrangement was full of difficulties and struggle.
The villagers depended on private tube-wells and wells.
Drinking water is being made available to every household in the village through a 3450 meter long pipeline under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Sarpanch Baludevane says that from March 2023, sufficient water is being supplied continuously under Nal-Jal Yojana.
Earlier the villagers were forced to fetch water from the Kundi (well) made in the forest.
Others used to arrange water from private tube wells of some families. Now water is available at home itself, the members of the Village Drinking Water and Sanitation Committee are playing an active role in checking its quality regularly.
Extra time available for livelihood activities from Nal Jal
Under the mission, the availability of water has been ensured by providing domestic tap connections to 154 families in Kushiyara village of Anuppur district. Indravati says that earlier one had to go a kilometer away to fetch water from the hand pump.
Due to the time taken in this, the work of farming was affected. With availability of water from the tap at home, time has been saved and farming has also become convenient. Shanti Bai has a grocery shop in the village itself.
Earlier, she had to leave the shop and go to fetch water. Now that water facility is available at home, she is able to devote time to her children’s education along with the shop. Smt. Somvati of this village sells chickpeas on hand-cart.
Since water is available at home, she is able to set-up chickpeashand-cart on time, due to which the family is being taken care of in a better way.
In this way, the facility of tap water in every house is making the life of all the members of the family comfortable and easy. Along with this, responsible use of water and environmental protection are also being promoted.
