DDWS accelerates tribal water access: PM-JANMAN and DA-JGUA progress review

01 Oct DDWS accelerates tribal water access: PM-JANMAN and DA-JGUA progress review

✎ DA-JGUA, a sub-scheme under PM-JANMAN, aims for 100% saturation of safe drinking water in tribal habitations through a 'Saturation Approach' and 'Convergence Model,' with funding shared between the Centre and states in a 90:10 or…

Subject Relevance — Where This Topic Fits

• GS Paper II — Governance, Transparency and Accountability  |  GS Paper III — Rural Development and Welfare Schemes
• Prelims: PM-JANMAN, DA-JGUA, Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC), Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), Mission Mode Projects
• Essay: Equitable access to basic services as a constitutional obligation, Role of cooperative federalism in tribal welfare

Quick Revision: DA-JGUA, a sub-scheme under PM-JANMAN, aims for 100% saturation of safe drinking water in tribal habitations through a ‘Saturation Approach’ and ‘Convergence Model,’ with funding shared between the Centre and states in a 90:10 or 60:40 ratio, monitored via the Jal Jeevan Mission Dashboard.

Why is this in the news?

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) convened a second follow-up meeting to expedite the provision of safe drinking water in tribal areas through the convergence of two centrally sponsored schemes: Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyaan (PM-JANMAN) and Dharani Adivasi Janjati Ujala Abhiyan (DA-JGUA). The meeting underscores the government’s commitment to addressing persistent gaps in water infrastructure within Scheduled Tribe habitats, particularly in aspirational districts and remote regions.

Background

• The Constitution of India, through Articles 46 and 275(1), mandates the State to promote the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Tribes (STs) and provide special assistance for their welfare.
• The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched in 2019, aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by 2024, with a sub-target for tribal districts under the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ component.
• PM-JANMAN, launched in November 2023, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with a financial outlay of ₹24,104 crore, targeting 22,000 tribal villages and 55,000 tribal habitations across 18 states and Union Territories.
• DA-JGUA, a sub-scheme under PM-JANMAN, focuses on the saturation of safe drinking water, sanitation, and allied infrastructure in tribal areas, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 targets.
• The DDWS, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, is the nodal agency for implementing JJM, PM-JANMAN, and DA-JGUA, with state governments acting as implementing authorities.

What are PM-JANMAN and DA-JGUA?

• PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyaan) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) launched to address the socio-economic gaps in tribal communities through a multi-sectoral approach, including education, health, housing, and water supply.
• The scheme operates under the ‘Tribal Welfare through Convergence’ model, integrating 11 existing schemes from 9 ministries, including the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• DA-JGUA (Dharani Adivasi Janjati Ujala Abhiyan) is a sub-scheme under PM-JANMAN, specifically dedicated to ensuring 100% coverage of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities in tribal habitations.
• DA-JGUA operates through a ‘Saturation Approach,’ ensuring that all tribal households in identified habitations receive FHTCs, community water purification plants, and allied infrastructure such as rainwater harvesting systems.
• The scheme prioritizes tribal districts identified under the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP), with additional focus on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas and remote tribal clusters.
• Funding for DA-JGUA is shared between the Centre and states in a 90:10 ratio for North-Eastern states and 60:40 for other states, with the Centre bearing the entire cost for Union Territories.
• Monitoring of DA-JGUA is conducted through the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission Dashboard’ and the ‘PM-JANMAN Monitoring App,’ enabling real-time tracking of progress and grievance redressal.
• The scheme also mandates the establishment of ‘Village Water and Sanitation Committees’ (VWSCs) to ensure community participation and ownership in the maintenance of water infrastructure.

Key Features

Feature	Significance
Second Follow-up Meeting under PM-JANMAN	Institutionalises inter-ministerial coordination for accelerated coverage in tribal areas.
Focus on DA-JGUA (Drinking Water in Aspirational Tribal Districts)	Targets 100% coverage in 177 Aspirational Districts with tribal-majority populations.
Multi-stakeholder Participation	Involves state governments, district administrations, and local tribal leaders for ground-level implementation.
Monitoring and Review Mechanism	Establishes periodic reviews to track progress and address bottlenecks in service delivery.

Why it Matters

Governance and Public Administration

• Demonstrates the Centre’s commitment to inclusive development by prioritising tribal regions under national flagship schemes.
• Highlights the role of inter-ministerial convergence in addressing sectoral silos for effective service delivery.
• Showcases the use of data-driven governance through Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) to identify and prioritise lagging regions.

Socio-Economic Development

• Directly contributes to reducing the rural-urban divide by ensuring equitable access to basic amenities in tribal areas.
• Supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation) by addressing water scarcity in vulnerable communities.
• Enhances human development outcomes by improving health and sanitation, particularly for women and children.

Institutional Strengthening

• Reinforces the capacity of local bodies (Panchayati Raj Institutions and tribal councils) in planning and monitoring water supply projects.
• Promotes participatory governance through community engagement in identifying and resolving implementation challenges.

Challenges

1. Geographical and Topographical Barriers

• Hilly and forested terrain in tribal regions complicates infrastructure development and maintenance of water supply systems.
• Seasonal variations (e.g., monsoons) disrupt construction timelines and increase project costs.

UPSC Link: GS-I: Tribal Communities and Development

2. Socio-Cultural Factors

• Low awareness among tribal communities about water conservation and hygiene practices limits the impact of infrastructure projects.
• Traditional practices and land ownership norms may conflict with government-led interventions.

UPSC Link: GS-II: Governance, GS-I: Tribal Issues

3. Financial and Logistical Constraints

• High capital expenditure required for piped water supply in remote areas strains state budgets and requires central assistance.
• Delays in fund disbursement from the Centre to states slow down project execution.

UPSC Link: GS-III: Resource Mobilisation

4. Technological and Skill Gaps

• Limited technical expertise in local bodies for designing and maintaining water supply systems in tribal areas.
• Dependence on external consultants increases costs and reduces long-term sustainability.

UPSC Link: GS-III: Technology Missions

Challenges — UPSC Perspective

Issue	Concern
Topographical Challenges	High costs and logistical difficulties in transporting materials to remote areas.
Community Resistance	Lack of trust in government schemes due to past unfulfilled promises.
Funding Gaps	Inadequate allocation in state budgets for operation and maintenance post-implementation.
Monitoring Lacunae	Absence of real-time data systems to track progress and identify delays.
Human Resource Shortage	Insufficient trained personnel for post-completion maintenance and repairs.

Government Initiatives — Must-Memorise for Prelims

• Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyaan (PM-JANMAN)

Way Forward

• Strengthen GIS-based mapping to identify water-scarce and high-priority tribal habitations for targeted interventions.
• Integrate tribal welfare schemes (e.g., MGNREGA) with water supply projects to create livelihood opportunities during implementation.
• Establish a dedicated tribal technical cadre under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to provide on-ground expertise.
• Leverage SHGs and local NGOs for community mobilisation and awareness campaigns on water conservation.
• Introduce performance-linked incentives for states to ensure timely completion of projects and adherence to quality standards.
• Develop a centralised dashboard for real-time monitoring of coverage gaps and fund utilisation.
• Promote rainwater harvesting and decentralised water storage solutions in tribal regions to enhance resilience.

UPSC Value Addition

Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the PM-JANMAN scheme:
1. It is a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at providing comprehensive development in tribal areas.
2. The scheme includes components for drinking water supply under DA-JGUA.
3. It is implemented exclusively by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs without inter-ministerial coordination.
How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Answer: Only two — Statement 1 is correct as PM-JANMAN is a centrally sponsored scheme for tribal areas. Statement 2 is correct as DA-JGUA is a component under PM-JANMAN for drinking water. Statement 3 is incorrect as the scheme involves inter-ministerial convergence, including the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS).

Q2. Assertion (A): The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) is the nodal agency for implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Reason (R): The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide functional tap water connections to every rural household by 2024.

1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
3. A is true, but R is false
4. A is false, but R is true

Answer: A is true, but R is false — Assertion (A) is true as DDWS is the nodal agency for Jal Jeevan Mission. Reason (R) is true but is not the correct explanation of A, as Jal Jeevan Mission’s target is by 2024, but it is not the reason for DDWS being the nodal agency.

Q3. Match the following schemes with their primary objectives:

Column I (Scheme)
A. PM-JANMAN
B. DA-JGUA
C. Jal Jeevan Mission
D. Watershed Development Component

Column II (Objective)
1. Providing functional tap water connections to every rural household
2. Comprehensive development in tribal areas including housing, roads, and water supply
3. Development of water resources in rainfed areas
4. Providing drinking water in tribal sub-plan areas

1. {‘A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3’: True}
2. {‘A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4’: False}
3. {‘A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2’: False}
4. {‘A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1’: False}

Answer: {‘A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3’: True} — PM-JANMAN (A) aims at comprehensive development in tribal areas (2). DA-JGUA (B) focuses on providing drinking water in tribal sub-plan areas (4). Jal Jeevan Mission (C) aims to provide functional tap water connections (1). Watershed Development Component (D) targets water resource development in rainfed areas (3).

Mains Practice Question

✍ The convergence of schemes such as PM-JANMAN and DA-JGUA under the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) represents a paradigm shift in addressing the drinking water crisis in tribal areas. Critically examine the institutional, governance, and socio-economic dimensions of this convergence. Also, assess the potential challenges in ensuring sustainable water security in these regions. (15 Marks)

Approach: MODEL-ANSWER SKELETON:

1. **Institutional Dimensions**:
– Role of DDWS as the nodal agency for Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and its convergence with PM-JANMAN and DA-JGUA.
– Inter-ministerial coordination: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Rural Development, and state governments.
– Institutional mechanisms: District Water and Sanitation Missions (DWSM), Gram Panchayats, and Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
– Reference to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, and decentralized governance.

2. **Governance Dimensions**:
– Policy framework: National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), Jal Jeevan Mission guidelines, and PM-JANMAN guidelines.
– Implementation challenges: Last-mile connectivity, terrain-specific solutions (e.g., hilly and forest areas), and technology adoption (e.g., solar-powered pumps).
– Monitoring and evaluation: Use of ICT tools like the JJM dashboard, real-time data tracking, and community-based monitoring.

3. **Socio-Economic Dimensions**:
– Tribal welfare: Addressing water-borne diseases, reducing drudgery of women and children, and improving livelihoods.
– Gender mainstreaming: Involvement of women in water management committees (e.g., Paani Samitis).
– Economic benefits: Reduced healthcare costs, increased agricultural productivity, and enhanced rural employment.

4. **Sustainable Water Security Challenges**:
– Environmental concerns: Deforestation, soil erosion, and climate change impacts on water sources.
– Financial sustainability: Cost recovery models, user charges, and maintenance of infrastructure.
– Community participation: Ensuring ownership and long-term maintenance of water supply systems.
– Data gaps: Lack of reliable baseline data on water resources in tribal areas.

5. **Comparative Perspective**:
– Lessons from successful models: Examples from states like Maharashtra (Jalyukt Shivar), Gujarat (Sujalam Sufalam), and Himachal Pradesh (Himachal Jal Shakti Mission).
– Global best practices: Community-led total sanitation (CLTS) and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques.

6. **Conclusion**:
– The convergence approach is a step toward holistic development but requires strengthening of institutions, financial sustainability, and community engagement to ensure long-term water security in tribal areas.

Source: PIB (Press Information Bureau)

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