Finance
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Government of Odisha signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi to ensure the effective implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 in the state.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the virtual event from Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, along with Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil and Minister of State B. Sommana from New Delhi.
Majhi expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the Jal Jeevan Mission, initiated under his leadership, has delivered tap water connections to 77.3% of homes in the country. He highlighted that the Union Cabinet has approved the mission’s extension till 2028, describing it as a significant step toward fulfilling the “Har Ghar Jal” target.
The Chief Minister said Odisha has prepared a comprehensive roadmap under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, focusing on community participation, financial sustainability, and infrastructure maintenance through its Operation & Maintenance Policy. Around 5,000 rural piped water supply schemes in the state have been assigned unique IDs on the Sujalam Bharat platform, with financial convergence achieved for all schemes.
He added that the state is providing 70 liters of drinking water per person every day, with Odisha contributing approximately 40% of the mission’s finances. Citizen-centric services have been improved through initiatives such as the Basudha Helpline, WhatsApp-based services, and a digital grievance redressal platform.
Grassroots engagement has been increased through Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs), and “Jal Arpan Divas” has already been observed in 25 districts and will soon be extended to the remaining areas.
Majhi highlighted the mission’s social impact, saying it has considerably decreased the strain on women by reducing the need to go large distances for water. He went on to say that the Jal Shakti Abhiyan has grown into a mass movement in Odisha, with the creation of 2.21 lakh water conservation and rainwater harvesting structures, the restoration of over 43,000 water bodies, the construction of 42,000 groundwater recharge structures, and the completion of more than 2 lakh watershed projects. The project has also resulted in the planting of almost two crore trees.
Speaking on the occasion, Patil stated that the project, which is part of the Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, aims to improve water supply in Odisha’s water-scarce districts while also improving women’s quality of life.
The programme was also attended by Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India Ashok Meena, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Saswata Mishra, Finance Principal Secretary Sanjeev Kumar Mishra, and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department Girish S. N., among other senior officials.
