1000 springs initiative

WHY IN NEWS?

• Union Tribal Affairs Minister launched the “Programme for Capacity Building of Scheduled Tribe Representatives in Local Self Governments” at a programme in Bhubhaneswar (Odisha) today.
• He also launched “1000 Spring Initiatives” and an online portal on GIS-based Spring Atlas with hydrological and chemical properties of the springs on the occasion.

ABOUT 1000 SPRING INITIATIVES

• The initiative aims at improving access to safe and adequate water for the tribal communities living in difficult and inaccessible parts of rural areas in the country.
• The initiative will help in harnessing the potential of perennial springs’ water to address natural scarcity of water in tribal areas.
• Springs are natural sources of groundwater discharge and have been used extensively in the mountainous regions across the world, including India.
• 60% of the Indian Himalayan region residents depend on springs, though, 50% of the springs in the Indian Himalayan region have already dried up.
• However, in the central and eastern Indian belt with more than 75% tribal population, springs remain largely unrecognized and under-utilized.
• It includes provision of infrastructure for piped water supply for drinking; provision of water for irrigation; community-led total sanitation initiatives; and provision for water for backyard nutrition gardens, generating sustainable livelihood opportunities for the tribal people.

Prelims Question

Q. 1000 Spring Initiatives which was recently in news is associated with?
a)Ministry of Tribal Affairs
b)Ministry of Defence
c)Ministry of Jal Shakti
d)Ministry of Women and Child Development

Answer to the Prelims Question