Garhwal Post Bureau
NEW DELHI, 27 Aug: Irrigation, PWD and Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj today called on Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at his office in Krishi Bhawan here. During this meeting, Chouhan and Maharaj discussed various issues concerning the sustainable operation, maintenance and long-term viability of drinking water assets created under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
During the meeting, Maharaj reminded that the Union Government had launched the Nal Jal Mitra programme as an important initiative under the Jal Jeevan Mission to develop skilled human resources at the local level for the operation and maintenance of rural drinking water schemes. He also observed that the programme had the potential to ensure the availability of trained local personnel for the continued operation and maintenance of drinking water assets created under the mission.
Maharaj informed Chouhan that several practical difficulties are being faced in ensuring the desired participation of rural youth and local people in the training being imparted under the ongoing Jal Jeevan Mission programme. Most of the prospective participants depend on the daily wages, agriculture and other livelihood activities for their income. Their regular earnings are affected when they attend training programmes, due to which many potential participants tend to avoid joining the training.
Maharaj urged that keeping in view the loss of livelihood suffered by eligible participants of the Nal Jal Mitra programme during the training period, the Centre should consider making provision to provide them the permissible wages and workdays through rule compliant convergence with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Maharaj said such a provision would enable more local people to undergo the necessary training without adversely affecting their livelihoods. At the same time, it would help create a trained local workforce capable of ensuring the regular operation and maintenance of drinking water schemes established under the Jal Jeevan Mission. This, he said, would also strengthen the sustainability and long-term viability of the drinking water assets created under the programme. The Minister further emphasised that convergence with MGNREGA for this purpose would provide livelihood support to rural participants during the training period.
Chouhan agreed with the request and suggestions made by Maharaj and assured him that prompt action would be taken in the matter. He also issued necessary directions to the officials concerned to examine and take further action on the proposal.
