Imagine an extreme weather condition and a long route to fetch a pot of water. That was a regular pain for Rural Ladakhians before becoming a Union territory. Now 30% of rural Ladakh households are getting water supply through taps, and all because of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). JJM has changed the scenario.
While addressing the inaugural session, Commissioner Secretary, Ladakh, Ajeet Kumar Sahu reiterated that JJM is not a scheme but a “People’s Movement” wherein community participation is the key. He expressed his pleasure on the fact that Ladakh strongly believes in “community participation” and that no major complaint has been registered regarding the implementation of the scheme so far. He further added that handing over the powers, functionaries, funds, and functions to the community will be the biggest achievement and ensure the success of the scheme.
All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG) which is an empaneled agency (KRC) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, conducted the first training program on Thursday for the engineers and officers of UT Ladakh. Commissioner Secretary presided over the inaugural ceremony as the Chief Guest. He congratulated the officials on the successful implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Ladakh and further lauded their efforts to encourage community participation, changing the initial inhibitions of the people towards JJM.
Concluding his address, the Commissioner Secretary thanked the AIILSG for organising the program and stated that the whole scheme should be conceptualized keeping the suitability for community management in mind, and urged the officials to reassess their work and prepare additional DPRs accordingly with the support of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department.
Through the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Administration has resolved to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual tap connections, even in sub-zero temperatures, by 2022 in rural Ladakh. More than 12 villages comprising remote villages like Dipling and Umla have now become ‘Har Ghar Jal’ by achieving 100% tap water connection. Now the residents of these villages don’t have to travel long distances to fetch water and have a water supply at their doorstep.