Why in news?
The Union Minister of Jal Shakti recently launched the Sujalam Bharat App, a comprehensive digital platform intended to transform how rural drinking water schemes are monitored and managed. The app brings together detailed information on water sources, infrastructure and supply quality under the Jal Jeevan Mission. By assigning a unique “Sujal Gaon ID” to each village, authorities hope to create a transparent record of every habitation’s water status.
Background
India’s flagship Jal Jeevan Mission seeks to provide every rural household with adequate and safe tap water. Managing thousands of pipelines, reservoirs and treatment plants across varied terrain is challenging. To support data‑driven decisions, the Ministry of Jal Shakti collaborated with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo‑informatics (BISAG‑N) to develop the Sujalam Bharat App. The tool integrates with the PM Gati Shakti Geospatial Platform, enabling engineers to visualise supply lines and plan upgrades more effectively.
Key features
- Digital village profile: Each habitation is given a Sujal Gaon ID. The app records whether the water source is local or bulk, the condition of pipes and tanks, daily supply schedules, water‑quality test results and arrangements for operation and maintenance.
- Unified data repository: Instead of scattered paper registers, officials can now access maps, asset inventories, scheme designs, quality reports and feedback from villagers in a single dashboard.
- Geo‑referencing: Integration with the PM Gati Shakti GIS platform allows assets to be plotted on digital maps, helping planners spot gaps, prioritise repairs and plan expansions.
- Community participation: By making performance data public, the app enables Gram Panchayats, Village Water and Sanitation Committees and residents to monitor service delivery and hold providers accountable.
- Capacity building: Training workshops are being organised for state and district officials so that data are entered accurately and used effectively in decision‑making.
Significance
- Transparency and accountability: A clear digital record discourages misreporting and helps identify villages with poor coverage or water quality.
- Better planning: Engineers can plan new pipelines or treatment facilities by analysing real‑time data on demand and supply, avoiding costly duplication.
- Empowering rural communities: Residents gain access to information about their own water supply, encouraging community ownership and timely reporting of leaks or contamination.
- Foundation for Viksit Bharat 2047: The app lays the groundwork for a robust digital infrastructure to ensure safe drinking water for all by India’s centenary year of independence.
Conclusion
The Sujalam Bharat App represents a major step towards data‑driven governance in the rural water sector. By capturing detailed information for each habitation and making it available to officials and villagers alike, the app aims to transform how drinking water schemes are planned, implemented and maintained.
Source: Press Information Bureau
