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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA -
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
There will be National Jal Jeevan Mission headed by a senior officer with a directorate. The mission will have all powers needed for the successful implementation of the Mission for long-term drinking water security to rural communities. Roles and responsibilities of NJJM are as under:
The concept of State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) started in 1999 for coordination, convergence and policy guidance at the State level, headed by Chief Secretary of the State. The SWSM may be registered as a society as decided by the respective State Government/ UT Administration. The State Governments would provide necessary powers to the SWSM for successful implementation of JJM. The existing SWSM may be further strengthened to achieve the objective of JJM. SWSM, a state level institution headed by Chief Secretary with Principal Secretary/ Secretary in-charge of PHED/ RWS Department as Mission Director is the organisation responsible for implementation of JJM in the state. Most of the mission officials will be taken on deputation from various departments/ agencies/ institutions for time-bound implementation of JJM. However, to bring synergy and drive with latest knowledge, in addition to regular officials, it will also have subject matter specialists on contract. To provide specialized support, SWSM can hire consultants for which fund provided under support activities can be utilized. The existing Water and Sanitation Support Organization (WSSO) will be subsumed under the SWSM. The structure of the mission and human resources will be decided by the State. In addition to public health engineers, the mission will also have officials/ personnel for project management, finance management, IT, IEC, capacity building and training, NGO coordination, etc. Depending on the quantum of work, and size of the State, following is suggested in addition to public health engineers:
At the district level, DWSM is responsible for overall implementation of JJM. DWSM will be headed by Deputy Commissioner/ District Collector (DC). The members would be
Eminent persons from the field of water management, community health, community development, etc. and local MP may be co-opted as members. Executive Engineer (EE), PHED/ RWS Department will be the member secretary. DWSM will convene monthly meetings to consider and accord administrative approval of the in-village water supply schemes, plan protection and preservation of village water sources, greywater management, preventing water bodies/ sources from getting polluted, etc. Every year, for preparation of district annual action plan, views of people's representatives such as MP/ MLAs/ chairperson of district Panchayat may be solicited. To support the DWSM, depending on the quantum of work, size of district, following Human Resource is suggested:
The remuneration towards the above technical/subject matter experts, if hired on contract basis, will be met from overall support activity fund.
Gram Panchayat and/or its subcommittee, i.e. Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/ Paani Samiti/ User Group, etc. It is envisaged under JJM that the community will play a lead role in planning, implementation, management, operation and maintenance of in-village water supply infrastructure thereby leading to FHTCs to every rural household. The willingness of community, reflected through Gram Sabha resolution and community contribution, will be the foremost criterion for planning of water supply system in villages.
GP and/ or its sub-committee, i.e. VWSC/ Paani Samiti/ User Group, etc. will function as a legal entity as envisaged in the 73 Amendment to the Constitution.
Gram Sabha will decide whether GP or its subcommittee will carry out the responsibilities of water supply management in the village. Wherever the subcommittee is chosen, i.e. VWSC/ Paani Samiti/ User Group, etc. it may be headed by Sarpanch/ UpSarpanch / GP member/ traditional village head/ senior village leader as the Gram Sabha may decide and Panchayat Secretary/ Patwari/ Talati may act as Secretary. It may consist of 10-15 members comprising elected members of Panchayat up to 25% of the composition; 50% women members (key to success); and remaining 25% may consist of representatives of weaker sections of the village (SC/ST) proportional to their population. Ordinarily, tenure of sub-committee may be kept at 2-3 years and Gram Sabha during the JJM period will have option to reconstitute the subcommittee. In case the tenure of elected members of Panchayat in the sub-committee, i.e. VWSC/ Paani Samiti/ User Group, etc. has ended due to any reason then the DWSM may ensure the continuation of subcommittee till such time the GP is reconstituted.
Similarly, in States where the elected GP does not exist, the sub-committee, i.e. VWSC/ Paani Samiti/ User Group may be headed by traditional village leaders/ senior village leader as the village council may decide and tenure will be specified. For GP or its subcommittee, i.e. VWSC/ Paani Samiti/ User Group, etc. State government will issue suitable notification under the Panchayati Raj Act.
