Why in the News? 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative at Surat in Gujarat. The initiative aligns with the ongoing Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign, reinforcing the vision of collaborative water management to ensure long-term water security. The initiative seeks to mobilise citizens, local bodies, industries and stakeholders in Gujarat to implement rainwater harvesting structures. 

About Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA)

• It was launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2019 as a campaign for water conservation and water security in the country. 
• A campaign “Catch the Rain” with the tag line “Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls” was implemented in 2020 to nudge the states and all stakeholders to create Rainwater Harvesting Structures (RWHS). 
• Aims 
  • To nudge all stakeholders to create Rainwater Harvesting Structures (RWHS) suitable for the climatic conditions and subsoil strata to store rainwater. 
  • To engage people through effective campaigning and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities for the campaign. 
• Activities 
  • Drives to make water harvesting pits, rooftop RWHS and check dams. 
  • Removal of encroachments and desilting of tanks to increase their storage capacity. 
  • Removal of obstructions in the channels which bring water from the catchment areas. 
  • Repairs to traditional WHS like stepwells and using defunct bore-wells and old wells to put the water back to aquifers. 
  • As a preparatory phase of Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) II, NYKS will undertake an awareness campaign through various IEC activities. 
    • IEC activities will include conducting education and motivational programs, mass awareness campaigns, environment building including wall writing, etc. 
  • States have been requested to open Rain Centers in each district, which will act as a technical guidance centre for all in the district.

Steps Taken for Water Conservation 

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 
• Jal Kranti Abhiyan - 2015 
• National Water Mission - 2011 
• NITI Aayog's Composite Water Management Index - 2018 
• Jal Shakti Ministry and Jal Jeevan Mission - 2019 
• Atal Bhujal Yojana - 2019 
• National Water Awards - 2017