
JAL SHAKTI ABHIYAAN Addressing water crisis On June 30 2019, in his Mann Ki Baat address, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave a clarion call to citizens to join hands for water conservation and create a jan andolan (mass movement) along the lines of the Swachh Bharat Mission to save water and secure the future. Inspired by the Prime Minister's impetus on jal sanchay (water conservation), the Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched the next day. With an aim to provide drinking water to every household on priority and in a sustainable manner, the Jal Shakti Abhiyaan will work to improve water availability in 592 water-stressed blocks in 256 districts across the country. The campaign will continue till November 30 in two phases - July 1 to September 15 (monsoon phase) and October 1 to November 30 (retreating monsoon phase). The first phase has already kickstarted with senior-level officers reaching 256 of the country's most water-stressed districts. These officials will