(a) whether ten per cent of the contribution towards the cost of basic infrastructure is to be borne by the community for implementation of piped potable water scheme under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM);
(b) whether consent of atleast eighty per cent families will be sought by calling the meeting of Gram Sabhas for the said contribution; and
(c) if so, whether the poor villagers be able to give the said contribution in order to get the benefit of the scheme?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) To instill the ‘sense of ownership’ among local community over in-village water supply infrastructure to be created under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), there is a provision of community contribution to the extent of 5% of the capital cost of ‘only in-village water supply infrastructure’ in case of North Eastern & Himalayan States, forested/ hilly areas, SC/ ST dominated villages and 10% in rest of the areas. After successful commissioning of the scheme, the community would be given back an amount to the tune of 10% of the total cost of in-village infrastructure.This would serve as a revolving fund to meet any unforeseen expenditure due to major break down, requiring emergency repair, thereby ensuring assured water supply to households.
(b)& (c) Under JJM, local community is at the centre of the programme. There is a provision for preparation and finalization of Village Action Plan (VAP) indicating various works,like local drinking water source strengthening, in-village water supply infrastructure, grey-water management & reuse, operation & maintenance of these systems by dovetailing of funds which inter-alia includes 15th Finance Commission grants to PRIs, MGNREGS, Swachh Bharat Mission - Gramin, CAMPA fund, District Mineral Development Fund (DMDF), MP/ MLA Local Area Development Fund, CSR fund, voluntary contribution, etc.as well as community’s own contribution.
To ensure transparency and enable rural communities to take a well-informed decision,VAPs to be approved by Gram Sabha with the consent of 80% of the villagers present in the meeting. This provision aims at empowering the local communities to have a decision-making role so as to enable them to manage, operate and maintain the water supply system for assured potable water supply on long-term and regular basis.
Gram Panchayat and/ or its sub-committee, i.e. Village Water & Sanitation Committee/ Paani Samiti/ User Group, etc. may exempt individual contribution from poor, infirm, divyangjan or widow with no source of steady income. Further, community contribution can be in the form of cash and/ or kind and/ or labour.
****