India can potentially prevent nearly 400,000 deaths from diarrhoea and save about 14 million DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) from water-related ailments if it manages to achieve universal rural coverage under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), said a World Health Organization report commissioned by the government. One DALY represents loss of equivalent of one year of full health. Coverage under the Jal Jeevan programme, which aims to connect each of India’s 190.40 rural households with a functional tap-water connection by 2024, has so far reached 62.84 per cent. Nearly 820 million people in 12 major river basins of country face “high to extreme” water stress, according to World Bank data. The piped water mission, launched by India in 2019, seeks to create sustainable infrastructure for doorstep availability of drinking water in all rural households.

Source: https://epaper.hindustantimes.com/