Importance of Water & Govt. Initiatives
In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 22 as World Water Day with the goal to inspire action and encourage understanding of the need of water. A National water supply programme was introduced in the social sector in 1954. The government if India provided assistance to the States to establish special investigation division in the Fourth Five Year Plan to carry out identification of drinking problem in the villages.
The Government of India introduced the ARWSP in 1972-73 to assist the States and Union Territoties with 100 per cent grants- in-aid to implement drinking water supply scheme in such villages. The Drinking Water Mission (NDWM) was introduced as one of the five Missions in the social sector in 1986. NDWM was renamed as Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission (RGNDWM) in 1991.
- To ensure coverage of all rural habitations with access to safe drinking water
- To ensure sustainability of drinking water systems and sources
- To tackle drinkinf water quality affected habitations
- To institutionalize the reforms initiatives in the rural drinking water supply sector