In a significant move to bolster drinking water access, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued directives to ensure tap water connections are provided to all schools and Anganwadi centres located in rural areas of the state. The orders were given by Chief Secretary SP Goyal during a high-level meeting on Monday.
Priority for Educational and Childcare Centres
Chairing the fifth meeting of the apex committee of the State Drinking Water and Sanitation Mission, Chief Secretary Goyal instructed officials to immediately compile and submit a list of all schools and Anganwadi centres currently lacking functional tap water connections. He emphasized that work to provide these connections should be taken up on a priority basis.
The Chief Secretary further directed that Jal Jeevan Mission work must also be expedited in several other critical areas previously identified by the Union Government. These include:
- Flood and drought-affected regions.
- Districts affected by Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).
- Sansad Adarsh Gram (Parliament's Ideal Village) areas.
- Localities with a high population of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Ensuring Safe and Potable Water Quality
Beyond infrastructure, the meeting focused sharply on water quality. To ensure the water supplied is safe for consumption, the Chief Secretary outlined a two-pronged testing strategy. Field testing kits will be provided to trained women in every village, empowering them to conduct preliminary water quality checks at the local level.
For more rigorous analysis, the state will additionally conduct bacteriological testing of water samples through NABL-accredited state laboratories. This dual approach aims to build community-led vigilance backed by scientific validation.
Contract Extension and State-Wide Coverage
In a key administrative decision, the apex committee approved a proposal to extend the contract period with agencies executing construction works under the Jal Jeevan Mission until December 2027. This extension is expected to provide continuity and accelerate the pace of the mission's implementation across Uttar Pradesh.
The committee also received a positive update on the mission's progress. Officials informed the Chief Secretary that all 97,070 revenue villages in Uttar Pradesh have now been covered with piped drinking water infrastructure. The latest directives aim to build on this foundation by ensuring critical community institutions like schools and childcare centres have direct, reliable access.
The state's push aligns with the national Jal Jeevan Mission's goal of providing Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural home. By prioritizing schools and anganwadis, the government aims to safeguard the health of children and support better educational and nutritional outcomes in rural Uttar Pradesh.
