Lucknow: The Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ms. Vini Mahajan, inaugurated a two-day National Conference on Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBM-G) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on February 16, 2024. The ceremonial lamp lighting ceremony marked the beginning of the conference, attended by senior officials from all States/ UTs and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, addressed the participants in the latter half of the day, emphasizing the critical juncture at which both JJM and SBM-G have reached in terms of their outputs and the need for sustainability. Shri Swatantra Dev Singh, Jal Shakti Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and Shri Ravi Kishen, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, also graced the occasion.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat commended the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in launching and steering SBM-G. He stressed the importance of addressing concerns related to saturation while focusing on sustainability. The transformative missions – JJM & SBM – need to continue Sampooran Swachhta (total cleanliness) with a focus on program convergence, quality control measures, and a passionate commitment from all stakeholders. He highlighted the need for JJM and SBM-G to become people’s movements, engaging the public in ensuring program uptake and sustainability.
Shri Swatantra Dev Singh applauded Uttar Pradesh’s progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Shri Ravi Kishen congratulated DDWS for the progress made in JJM and SBM-G, acknowledging their alignment with the visionary objectives set by the Prime Minister.
Ms. Vini Mahajan, the Secretary of DDWS, highlighted the transformative impact of SBM-G and JJM across 6 lakh villages. Emphasizing the importance of effective operation and maintenance (O&M), she urged a shift toward empowering local communities for sustained infrastructure management. She encouraged open dialogue, calling for inter-departmental convergence and shared learning to address challenges in the WASH sector comprehensively.
The conference included panel discussions on the WASH sector and related best practices, covering topics such as WASH Sector in India, Best Practices, and Sustainability of Schemes. Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, emphasized how skilling manpower can lead to the sustainability of schemes.
Shri Chandra Bhushan Kumar, AS&MD-NJJM, underscored the need for local solutions and innovations, adapting to varied geographical conditions. Shri Jitendra Srivastava, Joint Secretary and Mission Director (SBM-G), emphasized fostering a Jan Andolan, community involvement, and addressing emerging issues like faecal sludge management and menstrual hygiene for ODF sustainability.
The day concluded with interactive Q&A sessions, expert responses, and the release of five documents by the Union Minister, marking a significant step towards achieving water and sanitation goals in rural India.