National Water Security Initiative Introduced

1. Launch Details

• Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Union Minister Rural Development and Agriculture) and Shri Chandrakant Raghunath Patil (Union Jal Shakti Minister) jointly launched the National Initiative on Water Security.
• It was held at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi with top officials and virtual attendance of rural blocks and district magistrates all over the country.

2. Core Policy Shift

• Water security is a national priority under MGNREGA and it has been working under the oversight of the Prime Minister.
• Amendments made to the Schedule of the MGNREGA Act, 2005 compel a attention on water-related works particularly in the water stressed regions.

3. Mandatory Fund Allocation

The amendment implements a graded system of MGNREGA funds allocation:

• Over-exploited Blocks 65% of the funds are required to be spent on water-related works.
• Semi-critical Blocks: 40 percent of the funds should be used in conserving water.
• Other Blocks: At least 30 percent of the funds should be channeled in water related works.

4. Background and Impact

• This is an initiative that is based on the legacy that MGNREGA has established as the largest social program in the world.
• Key Achievements (since 2014):
  • Total Spending: Rs8.4 lakh crore.
  • The number of Employments created: More than 3,000 crore person-days.
  • Women Participation: It has grown by 48 to 58.
• Infrastructure Water Infrastructure Developed:
• More than 1.25 crore water conservation facility (e.g. farm ponds, check dams).
• More than 68,000 reservoirs were built/renewed under Mission Amrit Sarovar.

5. Overall Objective

• The initiative also supports the vision of sustainable water management, rural prosperity, and climate resilience, which will provide water security to the future generations of India.