New Delhi: The “Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023” was organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to honour the women WASH champions in the august presence of the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. She felicitated the exceptional and diligent work being done at the grassroots level by women in the implementation of campaigns like Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBM-G), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA-CTR) among others. In all, 36 women WASH Champions were conferred with the ‘Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023’.
The Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan– Catch the Rain 2023 campaign. He also released the NWM’s SoP on ‘Sustainability of Groundwater Sources’ by Hon’ble . He presented the President with the first copy of the ‘Swachh Sujal Shakti Ki Abhivyakti’ – a compendium of case stories from SBM (G), JJM and NWM. A customized ‘My Stamp’ for NWM was also launched by the Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Jesingbhai Chauhan, who also presented the first copy to the President.
In her address, the President observed that women are at the forefront of all the 3 missions of the Ministry of Jal Shakti. “We recognize the efforts of women in the Self-Help Groups and community-based organizations who have played a vital role in spreading awareness about the importance of water conservation, water management and sanitation. Their hard work and determination have been instrumental in the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Shakti Abhiyan” she said.
The President added that he women leadership in the SBM(G) and JJM programs, have brought piped water supply to more than 11 crore households and achieved more than 2 lakhs ODF Plus villages. Highlighting the overall benefits of the flagship missions, Murmu said, “Nobel laureate Michael Kremer, in his study has reported that 1.36 lakh lives of children under five years of ageis saved in rural India by providing safe and adequate drinking water through tap connections and having safe sanitation practices”.
A Babita Gupta of Bihar was awarded today for converting plastic waste into decorative products, Salila Jena of Odisha was recognized for solid and liquid waste management, Munni Devi of Jharkhand for providing tap water to homes, and Neelam Singh is playing an important role in making the village ODF plus through community cooperation.“These women make my belief stronger that with their dedication and hard work, India will present an example to the world in water management and sanitation.” the President added. n.”
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the aegis of Ministry of Jal Shakti celebrated women’s leadership by felicitating the extraordinary women who had contributed immensely to ODF Plus Model villages, Har Ghar Jal villages, Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain, Water Conservation, River Development, etc. under the various flagship programs of the Ministry. Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023, as a platform aimed at bringing the women grassroots achievers to the forefront and connecting them to national leadership, who on return can share their journey and thereby motivate other women in achieving an inclusive water and sanitation system – a Swachh Sujal Bharat.
While addressing the august gathering Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat congratulated the awardees and thanked each woman who had been part of water & sanitation efforts in the country. He said, “Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched in 2019, inspired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s mantra of water harvesting. I proud to inform you that during JSA:CTR 2021, more than 46 lakh water conservation and water harvesting works have been done in urban and rural areas. More than 36 crore saplings have been planted. More than 43 thousand training campaigns and agricultural fairs have been organized. During the campaign, an expenditure of Rs 65000 crore was incurred on water related works under MGNREGS alone. In this campaign, 374 Jal Shakti Kendras have been established which have now grown to 632 till date.All this would not have been possible without the contribution of our women”.
Bishweswar Tudu, MoS for Jal Shakti and Tribal Affairs in his speech applauded the women champions and how women were making significant contributions to all Government programmes. He also mentioned that Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain had created immense awareness amongst the masses about the importance of water conservation and brought together all stakeholders in a mass movement to conserve and recharge water.
Prahlad Singh Patel, MoS for Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries in his speech exhorted all to make “Swachhta” as resolve and the goal of their lives and take lessons from the women WASH heroes felicitated at the event, “There cannot be Jal Shakti without Nari Shakti’, he added.Hon’ble Minister further stressed the importance of grey water management in rural areas.
A total of 36 awards were conferred under SBM-G, JJM and NWM by the Hon’ble President of India and Union Minister of Jal Shakti under the following categories:
1. Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBM – G)
a. Making the village ODF Plus Model
b. GOBARdhan/Bio-degradable Waste and/or Plastic Waste Management
c. Greywater Management and/or Faecal Sludge Management
2. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
a. Women change-makers in the category of O&M of piped water supply
3. National Water Mission (NWM)
a. Jal Shakti Abhiyan – Catch the Rain
b. Water Warriors
The Awards were presented to Women representatives, Sarpanches, Swachhagrahis, Jal Vahini, Water Warriors etc., from village/GP/Block/District/State/UT for their contribution to SBM-G, JJM, and NWM as per above mentioned categories.
Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Vini Mahajan welcomed the dignitaries and congratulated the women WASH champions present at the event. Ms. Mahajan said that the achievement of more than 2 lakhs ODF Plus villages and piped water supply to more than 11 crore rural households has been possible only with the leadership and commitment of the women. Mahajan highlighted that “Be it Rani Mistri, Jeevika didi, Swachhagrahi, ASHA didi, Anganwadi didi, Jal Sahiya, Kishori samiti didi and enumerable other roles, it’s the women who with their leadership and dedication have played such an important role in the success of all the development schemes and programs of the country”.
