National conference on JJM and SBM-G concluded in Lucknow

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation organized a National Conference on Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) on 16-17 February 2024 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Objective of the conference:

• The conference brought together stakeholders from States/UTs to ensure 'an integrated approach towards sustainable solutions in the rural WASH sector'.
• The conference focused on key themes such as innovation, collaboration, sustainability and O&M.
• The conference served as a crucial platform for in-depth discussions on rural drinking water and sanitation issues.
• Participants shared best practices, strategized collaborative planning and discussed new approaches to rural sanitation.
• The highlight of the second day of the conference on 17 February was on the activities of the SBM-G program and achievements of the States/UTs. The agenda was carefully drafted to allow for interactive discussions, meaningful ideas and learning.
• It included case studies and innovative best practices for the LWM scheme in thematic sessions on maintaining ODF status. This mainly included -
  • Sewage Sludge Management
  • Gray Water Management
  • Digitalization
  • Liquid Waste Management (LWM)
  • Plastic Waste Management (PWM)
  • Solid Waste Management (SWM)
  • Menstrual Waste Management and Innovative Technologies was organized.
• The conference offered a closer look at each state's initiatives and progress, allowing for discussion of replication and sustainability.

Presentation of various states in the conference:

• This included a session on Kerala's MWM initiative through Clean Kerala Company,
• Tamil Nadu's experience of bituminous road construction using plastic under PMGSY
• The presentation of CEE which provided scope for recycling and forward linkage in the existing PWM sector was also a highlight here.
  • Cleanliness Revolution of Uttar Pradesh,
  • Toilet Clinic of Bihar,
  • Sampooran Swachhata of Karnataka through (PARIHARA) avoidance and sanitation and
  • Mizoram's effort showed how they made SBM successful through people's movement.
  • Capacity building and some state experiences shared under IEC were also included.

About Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM):

• JJM was started in the year 2019. JJM comes under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• JJM envisages supply of 55 liters of water per person per day to every rural household through functional household tap connections by the year 2024.
• JJM wants to become a mass movement for drinking water, making it everyone's priority.

About Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G):

• SBM-G launched: 2014
• It was launched by the Jal Shakti Ministry to accelerate efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage and focus on sanitation.
• It was implemented as a nationwide campaign/mass movement aimed at eliminating open defecation in rural areas.