From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI, Oct 2: Meghalaya has bagged the second prize under functionality assessment of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
The state’s Public Health Engineering Minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar received the award from President Droupadi Murmu at a function at the Vigyan Bhawan here on Sunday.
It was given under functional assessment for this year under the 60% coverage category. Tamil Nadu topped the list. Puducherry and Goa bagged the first and second prizes respectively above the 60% coverage category.
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti organized the event, commemorating the Swachh Bharat Diwas. Among the eight states in the Northeast, Sikkim received most of the awards. JJM Mission Director, Meghalaya, Syed Md A Razi, JJM State Coordinator BM Lyndem and other officials were present.
The functionality assessment of tap connections was conducted by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, through Hindustan Thompson Pvt. Ltd in rural areas of all states and Union Territories.
In her speech, Murmu noted that since the launch of “Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin” in 2014, over 11 crore toilets have been built in the country and about 60 crore people have changed their habit of open defecation.
The President said Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin is a behaviour-change movement. During the Covid pandemic, everyone realized that toilets, the habit of washing hands with soap, and the supply of water through taps have acted as a shield, she said.
The President said along with cleanliness, the Government of India is also working on the goal of providing quality drinking water to every household. The JJM has set the target of providing regular and quality drinking water to every household by 2024.
Murmu said ODF (open defecation-free) as well as access to tap water has led to a significant reduction in water-borne diseases in recent years but the government’s goal is much bigger.
Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat along with Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Jal Shakti & Tribal affairs Bishweswar Tudu and Minister of State for Jal Shakti & Food Processing Industries Prahlad Singh Patel were also present.