New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched a 100-day campaign to provide piped water connections to all anganwadi centres, schools and Ashramshalas (tribal residential hostels for children) in the country.
The campaign essentially highlights water, sanitation and hygiene issues and its interplay with children’s well-being and their long term development, Jal Shakti Ministry said in its official data.
The virtual campaign was recently launched by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
During the launch, he said, “PM Narendra Modi, while rolling out the logo of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) on September 29, called for ensuring drinking water supply to all schools and anganwadi centres in the country. We are asking state governments to ensure the same in the next 100 days.”
Furthermore, the Public Health Engineering Department of state governments will lead the campaign by involving gram panchayats and other departments, including Education, Women and Child Welfare, and the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development among others.
According to the Ministry, one of the objectives of the campaign is to plan and achieve overall water security for the purpose of drinking, cooking mid-day meals, handwashing and toilet use.
During these 100 days, concerted efforts will be made to ensure piped water supply to all these institution across the country.
A total of 15 lakh schools in rural areas and 14 Lakh anganwadi centres have been identified under the campaign.
“This campaign will go a long way in ensuring safe water supply to our children that will positively impact their health and overall development,” the ministry said.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), implemented by the Jal Shakti Ministry, aims at providing every rural household with piped potable water supply by 2024.
Under this, the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ aims at tap water supply to households with a special focus on women and children. Ensuring safe water to children is a priority under Jal Jeevan Mission as they are most susceptible to water-borne diseases like typhoid, dysentery, diarrhoea, cholera, etc.
-CHK
