Citizen Should know Ep 1 : Double Engine Goverment and Jal Jeevan mission

 

India is basically a federal state where states have the considerable powers under the schedule 7 of the constitution. But the truth is also that when the state and union government governed by the different political party, there might have the frictions on some points which slow down the growth process.

Narendra Modi have the long legacy of the politicizing this issue. When he was Chief Minister of the Gujarat, He strongly raised the issues of the Narmada water, Proposed GST etc with the Union government. Later when he became Prime Minister, He introduced the new word in political campaign and that is “Double Engine growth”. By using this phrase in election rallies, he tries to convey the message that when Lucknow and Delhi, Patna and Delhi, Mumbai and Delhi have the government ruled by the BJP, it will ensure the progress of the citizen at the double rate.

Now, let do reality check of this claim and it results for the Jal jeevan mission. Why I chose this? There are two reasons behind that:-

Jal Jevvan mission is the largest ever central sponsored scheme (CSS). Under this Scheme, Union government have announced to spend 3.6 lakh crore in 5 years.

Secondly, Central sponsored schemes require the best of cooperation between the state and union government for the proper implementation. Take Example of PM Kisan yojna, due to uncooperative behavior of the TMC led West Bengal government, it failed to implemented their properly. Likewise, the difference of opinion regarding Ayushman bharat between the Union government and States like Delhi, Kerala etc are well known.

Now let see report card of the double engine governments in Jal Jeevan mission :-

Here is the Analysis of the ELEVENTH REPORT of the STANDING COMMITTEE ON WATER resources presented to Loksbha on 8 march.

 

Water Quality Monitoring by women 

As reported by States, as on 15.02.2021, so far 3.87 lakh women at Gram Panchayat/Village level has been trained in Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance activities including for testing the water samples through FTK/Bacteriological vials.

 Number of women trained in Double Engine governments of

• Uttar Pradesh - ZERO
• Bihar  - TWO
• Goa - ZERO
  

 

Water Connection in Aanganwadi and Schools

Focusing on piped water supply in Schools, Anganwadi Centres and Ashramshalas (residential tribal schools), ‘100-days campaign’ was launched on 02.10.2020 to provide potable piped water to every school, anganwadi centre and Ashramshala, for drinking and cooking purpose and tap water for hand washing and in toilets.

 Even after such campaign, Only 48.49% of the Aanganwadi centers got the water Connections and Only 53.29% of the Schools get the tap water connection.

Here is the report card of the Double Engine governments :-

• Madhya Pradesh - 12% of the Aanganwadi and 16% of the Schools have the water connection
  
• Assam - 2.2% of the Aanganwadi and 14% of the Schools have the water connection
  
• Uttar Pradesh -  5% of the Aanganwadi and 8% of the Schools have the water connection
  

Standing committe observed that - "The Committee are pleased to observe that the response to the 100 days campaign was overwhelming and States like Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Punjab have been able to provide cent per cent potable piped water facility in their Anganwadi Centres and Schools. However, lot more is need to be done, in this regard, as States like Assam, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh etc. are lagging behind, and need to be persuaded to emulate the States which have achieved cent per cent results in providing basic needs of drinking water and sanitation facilities to all their schools and Anganwadi centres"

Here the top performing state like the  Andhra pradesh, Tamil nadu etc are not having the BJP ruled goverment in state. On other hand, poor performer like Uttar pradesh, Assam have the BJP ruled Goverment.

 

Community Water Purification Plants (CWPPs)

Tap water connection need time to cover all household but there are many region in India having the problem of the water contamination. So the Union goverment introduced the Community Water Purification Plants (CWPPs) for the temporary solutions. Here is the report card of that 

• Bihar - 506 plants even tough there is problem of arsenic contamination, Karnataka which is also double engine growth have 17,000+ plants.
  
• Madhya pradesh have only 288 plant
  

The Standing committee note recommended that –  The Committee have been informed that 32277 CWPPs have been set up in the country so far by various States. The Committee is quite skeptical as to whether these CWPPs are adequate enough to cater to the requirements of all quality affected habitations. The Committee, recommend that Department in consultation with States