Assam is well on track to achieve the target of providing clean tap water supply to every home by 2024, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DWS) Secretary Vini Mahajan said on Wednesday (19 January).

Mahajan on Wednesday reviewed the progress of Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission in Assam with state's Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua.

Mahajan appreciated the progress made by Assam in providing tap water supply to rural homes during the review meeting on implementation of the two key missions in the state.

“Jal Jeevan Mission is a decentralized, demand-driven, community-managed water supply scheme which aims to improve the lives of rural people by providing clean tap water supply to every home," the DWS secretary said.

"Assam is well on track to achieve the target of providing clean tap water supply to every home by 2024 and the Centre is providing full assistance to the state to achieve the goal," she said.

Speaking on the implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission, Mahajan said, “While the districts have self-declared themselves Open Defecation Free, but this is not a one-time effort. Efforts under the programme are being made to bring about social and behaviour change for sustainability of the ODF status of villages at all times".

She also emphasised on urgent need to prioritise supply of tap water in all schools and anganwadi centres of the state, a Ministry of Jal Shakti statement said on Wednesday.

According to the ministry, at the announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission on 15 August 2019, only 1.11 lakh (1.76 per cent) households out of total 63.35 lakh households in the state had access to tap water supply.

In about 28 months, 17.46 lakh households have been provided with clean tap water. In last six months alone, clean tap water supply has been provided to more than 8.5 lakh households, the ministry said.