Now, in its fifth year, the government is introducing another game-changing scheme, Jalsakhi, aimed at increasing livelihood opportunities for rural women. Under this scheme, responsibilities like rural drinking water supply and billing will be handed over to women’s self-help groups (SHGs).
On the initiative of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Lakhpati Didi scheme launched in 2022 has already helped over 1.63 lakh women in Uttarakhand cross the mark of ₹1 lakh in annual income. Now, in its fifth year, the government is introducing another game-changing scheme, Jalsakhi, aimed at increasing livelihood opportunities for rural women. Under this scheme, responsibilities like rural drinking water supply and billing will be handed over to women’s self-help groups (SHGs).
The Har Ghar Nal (tap water in every home) scheme in Uttarakhand is nearing its target. The drinking water department is now preparing to streamline the water supply system under this scheme. Tasks like providing new connections, bill distribution and correction, bill collection, and maintenance of schemes in rural areas will be outsourced to women SHGs. Additionally, the department will provide water quality testing kits to these SHGs. The groups will also report any malfunction in the water supply systems. For this, selected SHGs will be trained as Nal Jal Mitras (Tap Water Assistants).
This pilot project will also offer an incentive of ₹10 per bill to these groups, along with a share in the revenue. This initiative will help rural women earn from home and gain an additional source of livelihood.
Source and image: https://shorturl.at/M2l0t
