Nagaland committed to successful completion of JJM, SBM (G) mission — Zhimomi

Kohima — Nagaland attended the review meeting on implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) for Northeastern states in Guwahati on Thursday, which was chaired by the union minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Nagaland team was led by minister of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Jacob Zhimomi. Others officials included principal secretary of PHED, E Mhonbemo Patton; chief engineer and HoD, Repangyangba Longkumer; and chief engineer of sanitation and WSSO, T Sangtam.

Speaking at the meeting, Zhimomi informed that Nagaland is fully committed to successful completion of both the JJM and SBM (G) mission. He has appreciated the union minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, for organising the review meeting with the ministers in charge of PHE/ RWS department of the Northeastern states to review the implementation of JJM and SBM (G).

“This will provide us an opportunity to share our experiences and strategies to complete the implementation of JJM and SBM (G),” he said.

Zhimomi stated that JJM in Nagaland commenced in 2019-20 like in other states of the country. He added that Nagaland initially took time to accelerate. He, however, stated that the pace has been hastened now by shortening the project approval and award of work order procedure.

He informed that at present out of a total of 3,69,295 rural households in Nagaland, 2,65,928 households (72.01%) have been provided with functional household tap connection (FHTC). He added that the state has planned to saturate and provide water supply to the remaining 1,03,367 households by December 2023.

“The state has certified 225 out of 472 Har Ghar Jal reported villages, which is 47.67 percent. Certification for the rest is also in the process,” he informed.

He informed that in Kiphire aspirational district/ Mission Utkarsh district, 12,842 out of a total of 14,991 households have been provided household tap connections.

“Out of a balance of 2,149, the 15 FC award portion, implemented by Rural Development Department (RDD) was 792. We are coordinating with the RDD to ensure completion by December 2023,” the minister said.

Coverage of schools, Anganwadi centres and other public Institutions are implemented under convergence by the Rural Development department under the 15th Finance Commission grant, he added.

As most of the villages in Nagaland are located on hilltops and far away from water sources, he stated that implementation of pipe water supply schemes in such situation and terrain presents many challenges which adversely impacted the pace of work. In addition, depletion of water sources particularly the vulnerable sources of hilltop villages has become a common phenomenon in Nagaland due to various man-made and natural factors, he said.

He said that Jal Shakti Abhiyan-Catch the Rain 2023 with the theme “Sustainability of drinking water sources” is a very timely initiative of the central government, which would address issues of source sustainability through various converging plans.

“However, considering the scale and complexities involved, a comprehensive plan for springshed management, preferably in mission mode, may be initiated under the Ministry of Jal Shakti for long term solutions to address drinking water source sustainability,” he viewed.

He said that the coverage of Adhaar registration in the state is only 61.08 percent, which might ultimately affect the timely reporting of FHTC coverage in the state.

“We have noted the importance of monitoring and surveillance of the quality of drinking water and regular testing,” Zhimomi said.

He informed that 11 district laboratories have been established across the state of Nagaland and one state laboratory in Dimapur.

During 2023-24, water sample testing in laboratory was conducted as well as by using field testing kit (FTK) numbering 12,127 tests in 1449 villages, he informed adding that remedial action has been taken for all the 112 samples found contaminated.

Zhimomi also informed that the department has trained 7,360 women for water quality surveillance through use of FTK in 1472 villages.

“One of the reasons for the slow pace of implementation in the state was due to the shortfall/ lack of trained manpower. We have, therefore, accorded top priority for skill development. Till 2022-23, we have trained 2,691 personnel in different trades. We have kept a very ambitious target of 3096 personnel for multi-skilled training, which will be in full swing after the monsoon and sowing season is over,” the minister said.

Zhimomi expressed happiness that under SBM (G) Phase-II, construction of IHHL (individual household latrine) are still being taken up and termed it “very important particularly for a tribal state like Nagaland, where new villages are formed from time to time.”

“This year we have completed 1256 out of projected 4,322 IHHL, the rest will be done on priority,” the minister said.

Stating that the state has till date declared 430 villages as open defecation-free (ODF plus) out of 1425 villages, he said, “We have reached this level from nil at the start of the last financial year. We plan to cover 710 villages as per AIP during the current financial year with the support of Rural Development department.”

Considering the importance and utility of grey water management, the minister said the department has kept a target of implementing grey water management in 710 villages this year out of which 32 are in progress.

Stating that the state have now reached a stage where the investment in both JJM and SBM(G) would be handed over and owned by the community, Zhimomi said, “We have started very intensive IEC and awareness campaign involving ISA (implementing support agency) like NEIDA/ Tata Trust.”

He further informed that three videos and several SBCC tools have been released in six local dialects so far and added that the department would accelerate the campaign and translate the IEC tools into more local dialects.