SCORECARD: Assessing the Impact of CSE’s Capacity Building Programme on the Progress of Jal Jeevan Mission

May 18, 2023

Centre for Science and Environment was designated as a key resource centre by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti in the FY 2021–22. As a key resource centre, CSE is training Level 2 officials working for the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)— the latest programme to bring sustainable and clean drinking water to every household. These officials include engineers from the rank of superintending engineer and below. They implement the different water-related structures on the ground. These engineers are trained under the broad topics of source sustainability, greywater management and affordable drinking water quality technologies.

JJM was launched in 2019. Through it, the target of supplying safe and sustainable water was reintroduced for the sixth time since 1969. The country failed to achieve the target every time before this and even villages with full coverage of water supply slipped to uncovered or partially covered status. The main reason was that the source of water—mostly groundwater—was either contaminated or not recharged efficiently. This time, source sustainability and water quality monitoring were brought under special focus in JJM. Also, as the mission targets to provide drinking water at the rate of 55 litres per capita per day, greywater generated due to usage of that water (coming out of the kitchen and washing areas) is also an area of focus.