SHILLONG: The East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM), on Friday, inaugurated a one-day training-cum-orientation programme on the Centre’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) for district-level functionaries of the DWSM, at the Conference Hall of the office of the Chief Engineer, PHE.
Launched in 2019, the JJM is a flagship programme launched by the central government that aims to provide functional household tap connections to every rural household by 2024. ) Under the JJM, Meghalaya’s goal is to provide household tap connections to every rural household by 2023.
In pursuance of the goal, the programme has been organised to provide a comprehensive introduction to the JJM in the state besides a glimpse of how it can be taken forward so that the message reaches all households in the state through the integrated efforts.
In her address, East Khasi Hills DC Isawanda Laloo said that only 18 per cent of households in the country have functional household tap connections. In acknowledgement of this fact, the goal of the JJM will go a long way in ensuring that far-flung villages are provide with clean, potable water, she said, adding that women and girls will get rid of the difficulty in fetching clean water.
The DC further said the vision of the JJM is not only to roll out a scheme but to oversee an end-to-end implementation and prioritisation of water conservation and sustainability.
Informing that 40 per cent of the targeted goal of the Mission has been achieved in the state so far, Laloo called for the active collaboration of all departments, implementing agencies and village-level organisations in ensuring that water conservation activities are given priority. She also stressed on the need for capacity building at the grassroots level.