Patna: A high-level review meeting to assess the progress of the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Mission was conducted via video conferencing today, chaired by Abhilasha Kumari Sharma, Commissioner of MNREGA and Additional Chief Executive Officer of Jeevika, who also serves as Mission Director for the state’s flagship environmental initiative.
The meeting, held at the Jeevika office auditorium, brought together District Mission Managers, Programme Managers, and Mission Managers across departments involved in implementing the campaign. The Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Mission, a multi-departmental initiative by the Bihar government, aims to address ecological challenges posed by population growth, human activity, and climate change through a coordinated plan comprising 11 core components and the participation of 15 government departments.
According to officials, the campaign has yielded measurable improvements, including a significant rise in groundwater levels, increased green cover, and greater public awareness. Over one lakh individuals have so far been trained or mobilised as part of the mission. Infrastructure efforts under the scheme include the renovation of traditional water bodies such as ponds and ahar-pains, the restoration of over 37,000 public wells, construction of more than 12,000 check dams, and installation of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems on over 14,000 buildings.
During the review, She directed officials from MNREGA and the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to procure saplings from both government nurseries and those operated by Jeevika’s women’s self-help groups — known as ‘Jeevika Didis’ — to accelerate plantation drives during the monsoon season. She further emphasised the importance of community involvement, urging the active participation of Jeevika members, schoolchildren, and local residents to promote tree plantation efforts.
The mission continues to be guided by its motto: “Paani, Jeevan aur Hariyali — tabhi toh aayegi khushhaali” (Water, Life and Greenery — only then will prosperity follow).
