Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh has underlined the need to ensure the sustainability of water resources in rural areas of the country. Addressing the 1st meeting of National Drinking Water and Sanitation council (NDWSC) Vigyan Bhawan here today, the Minister called upon the Council members to explore how to make optimal use of available water sources and ensure best possible means for recycling of water so that the dependence on groundwater is reduced. Mr. Deshmukh also said that there is urgent need to improve the availability of domestic water supply in view of an increase in population and number of habitations and at the same time to cope up with the increasing demand of sectors like agriculture and industry.
The Minister called upon the council members to discuss areas of convergence with the various schemes Government such as Mahatma Gandhi NREGA , Indira Awas Yojana , National Rural Health Mission, Schemes of Ministry Of Agriculture , Ministry Of Water Resources etc. to provide safe drinking Water and Sanitation to every household in the rural area.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development Shri Pradeep Kumar Jain “Aditya” highlighted the importance of providing safe drinking water in rural areas specially the Bundelkhand area of Uttar Pradesh. Ms. Agatha Sangma, Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development underlined the importance of availability of water in the tribal and remote areas of the country. In his welcome address, the Secretary in the Department of Drinking Water Supply highlighted the initiatives taken by Ministry and said the department would strive hard to ensure that all rural households have access to safe and sustainable drinking water and improved sanitation facilities by providing support to States.
This is the first meeting of the high level committee, headed by Rural Development Minister aimed at bringing inter-sectoral convergence and coordination between the Centre and states. It also provides an opportunity to seek inputs from experts in the field of drinking water and sanitation. The Council is comprised of Ministers of State of the Rural Development Ministry as members, apart from Secretaries of the Planning Commission, Water Resources, Panchayati Raj, Environment and Forests, Rural Development, Expenditure, Urban Development, School Education, Agriculture and Cooperation, Health and Family Welfare and Industrial Policy and Promotion, apart from representatives from five states, zilla parishad presidents, 10 representatives of the civil society organisations and scientific organisations, one representative each from Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).The Secretary, Drinking Water and Sanitation is the member convenor of the body. The civil society representatives include among others Joe Madiath of Orissa-based NGO Gram Vikas, ecological sanitation exper Paul Calvert, Director of Water Aid India Ms Indira Khurana and ex-director of AIIH&PH Indira Chakraborty.
The deliberations are expected to bring in greater inter- sectoral convergence and coordination between Ministries/Departments at the Centre, between the Centre and the States and with representatives of scientific and educational institutions and civil society organizations in the areas of rural water supply and sanitation.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development Shri Pradeep Kumar Jain “Aditya” highlighted the importance of providing safe drinking water in rural areas specially the Bundelkhand area of Uttar Pradesh. Ms. Agatha Sangma, Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development underlined the importance of availability of water in the tribal and remote areas of the country. In his welcome address, the Secretary in the Department of Drinking Water Supply highlighted the initiatives taken by Ministry and said the department would strive hard to ensure that all rural households have access to safe and sustainable drinking water and improved sanitation facilities by providing support to States.
This is the first meeting of the high level committee, headed by Rural Development Minister aimed at bringing inter-sectoral convergence and coordination between the Centre and states. It also provides an opportunity to seek inputs from experts in the field of drinking water and sanitation. The Council is comprised of Ministers of State of the Rural Development Ministry as members, apart from Secretaries of the Planning Commission, Water Resources, Panchayati Raj, Environment and Forests, Rural Development, Expenditure, Urban Development, School Education, Agriculture and Cooperation, Health and Family Welfare and Industrial Policy and Promotion, apart from representatives from five states, zilla parishad presidents, 10 representatives of the civil society organisations and scientific organisations, one representative each from Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).The Secretary, Drinking Water and Sanitation is the member convenor of the body. The civil society representatives include among others Joe Madiath of Orissa-based NGO Gram Vikas, ecological sanitation exper Paul Calvert, Director of Water Aid India Ms Indira Khurana and ex-director of AIIH&PH Indira Chakraborty.
The deliberations are expected to bring in greater inter- sectoral convergence and coordination between Ministries/Departments at the Centre, between the Centre and the States and with representatives of scientific and educational institutions and civil society organizations in the areas of rural water supply and sanitation.
Courtesy : PIB
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