Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced that bicycles will be provided to Jal Saathis (Water Mates) for their transportation needs.
The Chief Minister made the announcement while attending the capacity building programme organized for Jal Saathis at the convention center in Lokseva Bhawan today.
Jal Saathi has helped build trust between the government’s water supply department and the users by building a bridge between them. Their efficiency has ensured quality and reliable water supply, the Chief Minister said.
It is worth mentioning that Mission Shakti members and members of the third gender have been entrusted with drinking water supply and water treatment plant in the urban areas. They are taking meter readings, testing water quality, providing new connections and assisting in weeding out illegal connections. They have been provided with training for such jobs.
Describing decentralization and community partnership as the two eyes of the State government’s urban management model, the Chief Minister said that Jal Saathis represent both these eyes.
He said that the programme which was started 3 years back under the 5T initiative, Jal Saathis are now successfully managing drinking water supply programme in the urban areas of Odisha.
The Chief Minister said that Odisha is the only state where 100 percent piped water supply has been provided in 85 towns out of 114 towns.
As of now, 740 Jal Saathis in the State are managing the water supply programme of 8.40 lakh users and have collected water tax of Rs 67 crore.
He said that due to them there has been a lot of improvement in meter reading, water tax collection and removal of illegal pipe connections.
The Chief Minister said that in view of the success of the Jal Saathi programme, the State government has decided to allow Mission Shakti Groups to collect property tax.
He said that this will increase the collection of revenue in the urban areas and in addition to that it will lead to financial growth and empowerment of Mission Shakti members.
Informing that drinking water of international quality is provided 24 hours round-the-clock under the State Government’s Drink From Tap programme, the Chief Minister said that this programme has been appreciated and emulated at the national and international levels.
The Chief Minister said that drink from tap and Jal Saathi programmes have been given priority at the national level and a decision has been taken to implement these programmes under Amrit 2.0 programme in all states.
The Chief Minister said, Jaga Mission and Drink From Tap programmes have become a success story for the urban areas of Odisha adding that it would not have been possible without community participation programmes like Jal Saathi.
The State government is proud of its partnership with various groups and stakeholders of Mission Shakti, the Chief Minister stated.
Expressing that citizens get excellent service in the administrative system through community participation programme, the Chief Minister said that it will lead us towards building a strong Odisha.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Usha Devi said that to fulfill the dreams of women, the Chief Minister’s vision has been successfully implemented today. This is a unique example of women’s empowerment, she added.
Principal Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department G Mathivathanan in his welcome address said that 97 part of the urban areas of the State now has access to piped water.
He said that while 85 cities of the state have 100 percent piped water supply, piped water system will be completed in the remaining 20 cities by December 2023.
Departmental Special Secretary Sagarika Patnaik proposed vote of thanks at the programme.
