SHILLONG: Meghalaya has reached a significant milestone in its quest to provide safe and sustainable drinking water to its rural households. The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a national initiative launched in August 2019, now proudly boasts over 400,000 functional household tap connections in Meghalaya.
In a formal announcement, Meghalaya’s Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, lauded the achievement. “Meghalaya’s remarkable attainment of 4 lakh Jal Jeevan Mission Functional Household Tap Connections is a testament to our commitment to the well-being of our people. Our eyes remain fixed on the goal of ensuring 100% tap connections in the state,” he wrote on a widely used micro-blogging website on Wednesday.
Reportedly, East Garo Hills district leads the state with an impressive 80.09% coverage, with various districts following closely. Overall, out of the 6,51,529 households in Meghalaya, 4,00,812 now enjoy the convenience of tap water, representing a significant 61.52%.
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Syed Md A Razi, the state’s Mission Director for JJM, reflected on the achievement, remarking, “Meghalaya’s progress is commendable, and our mission is clear: water security for all, reaching even the remotest corners. We’re relentless in our pursuit.”
Adding a feather to Meghalaya’s cap, the state secured an additional grant-in-aid of Rs 299.24 crore from the Ministry of Jal Shakti in April, marking the third consecutive year of receiving this bonus – a singular achievement for proficiently adopting the JJM mandate.
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With an ambitious deadline set for January 2024, the government is geared towards connecting all households to the tap water grid. Last year, Meghalaya’s commitment to the JJM’s vision earned it the second prize in the functionality assessment of the mission.
The JJM’s national drive, with its core objective of delivering safe drinking water to all rural households by 2024, is making significant inroads in Meghalaya. With nearly two-thirds of its households already reaping the benefits, the state exemplifies the mission’s potential and promise.
