‘Jal Mitan-Yuva Udyami’; Entrepreneurship Development Program in Chhattisgarh

On the 2nd of June, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated the first and unique program of its kind ‘Jal Mitan-Yuva Udyami’ Entrepreneurship Skill Development Project for the operation and permanent maintenance of drinking water schemes in rural areas of Chhattisgarh. 

Under this program, 21-day residential training is being given to the rural youth in the trades of Water Quality Testing Services, Tap-Pipe Fitting Repairing, Aro Fitting-Repairing, Electrical Fitting-Repairing, Solar Panel Fitting-Repairing, Pump Operator Service, etc. There is a target to provide skill development training to 58 thousand rural youth in the state. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Public Health Engineering Minister Guru Rudra Kumar delivered free tool kits to ninety Jal Mitans and young entrepreneurs, who obtained training in the program organized at the Chief Minister’s residence. Safety shoes, helmets, equipment, etc. have been given to the youth in a tool kit worth Rs 15,000. 540 youths and 90 young entrepreneurs in the state have been given high-level residential training for 21 days. Public Health Engineering Minister Guru Rudrakumar presided over the program. Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. S. Bharathidasan, Mission Director of Jal Jeevan Mission Chhattisgarh Alok Katiyar, UNICEF WASH specialist Shweta Patnaik were also present in the program.

Chhattisgarh is the first state in the country to train a large number of rural youth for the operation & maintenance of drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Also, the practices are on board for the maintenance and operation of schemes, as Jal Didi. UNICEF’s Water and Sanitation Hygiene Specialist Shweta Patnaik shared that Chhattisgarh is the first state in India to begin the ‘Jal Mitan’ program. This program has been launched in the state to secure sustainable maintenance of water supply schemes.