India is home to 18% of global human population and 15% of global livestock population but has only 2% land mass and 4% of global fresh water resources.
India receives (on an avg) 1170 mm rainfall but only 10-20% of that is presently utilized.
With an aim of effectively managing the rainwater and to recharge the groundwater, Ministry of Jal Shakti launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan in the year 2019 in 256 water stressed districts.
The results of JSA -1 witnessed an overwhelming response from the field formations. The team of Central Govt officers including Joint Secretaries and technical experts created awareness amongst the field officials and encouraged them to create capacities for water harvesting and conservation. As a result, interventions were made in 1,01,04,338 water conservation & rain water harvesting projects, 75,36,381 renovation of traditional & other water bodies, 74,85,025 Reuse and recharge structures, 96,96,381 watershed development.
A total of 1,19,85,64,862 tree saplings were planted.
JSA-1 witnessed huge public participation.
Encouraged by the response, the Ministry has now planned Jal Shakti Abhiyan -2 “Catch the rain where it falls when it falls” across the country including 734 districts,7195 blocks, 2.55 Lakh panchayat, 6.64 Lakh villages.
The campaign shall witness mobilization of an unprecedented scale. Teams of central Govt officials shall visit each districts to sensitize and motivate them to undertake water harvesting and conservation measures.
To provide more traction to the Abhiyan, 1.74 Lakh village based youth clubs under Nehru Yuva Kendra shall be mobilized to spread awareness at grass root level.
For this purpose, some financial assistance shall be provided at each district level.
The Ministry is also working on fostering convergence between various other ministries of the Government like Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Defence, Surface transport, Civil aviation etc to achieve focused results in this direction.
JSA -2 shall envisage geo tagging of all water bodies throughout the Nation. This shall form basis for assessment of the rejuvenation efforts for water bodies pan India.