Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Empowering Women

Syllabus: GS2/ Welfare Scheme

In News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the Jal Jeevan Mission’s role in empowering women, particularly in rural areas.

Role of JJM in Women Empowerment

• Time Savings: Women traditionally bear the responsibility of fetching water, often walking long distances. Jal Jeevan Mission frees up their time, allowing them to engage in other activities like education, skill development, or income generation.
  • A report by SBI shows: 7.4 percentage point increase in women’s participation in productive activities.
• Health and Well-being: Access to clean water reduces the risk of waterborne diseases, improving the health of women and their families. This leads to increased productivity and overall well-being.
• Economic Opportunities: With more time and better health, women can participate more actively in the workforce, contributing to household income and economic growth. The SBI report highlighting increased female workforce participation in agriculture and other sectors is a testament to this.
• Education: Girls who previously had to miss school to fetch water can now attend regularly, leading to improved educational outcomes and better future prospects.
• Social Status: By reducing the burden of water collection, the Jal Jeevan Mission enhances the social standing of women and gives them a greater voice in their communities.

About Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

• Objective:  It is a flagship program under the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched in August 2019 with an ambitious goal: to provide every rural household in India with a functional tap water connection by 2024. 
• Goal: Develop “WASH enlightened villages” where local communities are equipped to provide long-term assured water supply and sanitation services to all residents.
• Progress and Achievements: Significant increase in tap water connections: From 3.23 crore (17%) households in 2019 to over 15.35 crore (79.31%) households in October 2024.
  • 100% Coverage in several states/UTs
• Key components: Water quality, source sustainability, greywater management – demonstrate a holistic approach to water management.

Conclusion

• The JJM reflects the government’s commitment to achieving holistic development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). 

Source: ET