JALAJ Livelihood Centres:
The Union Minister of Jal Shakti inaugurated 25 JALAJ Livelihood Centres.
- JALAJ Livelihood Centres is a joint initiative of the Namami Gange Mission and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
- It is aimed at integrating river conservation with sustainable livelihoods in the Ganga river basin.
- Jalaj is based on the circular economy model where the local people will be trained in sustainable livelihood practices and mobilized to contribute to biodiversity conservation and clean river ecosystem.
- The initiative promotes community ownership of conservation efforts while creating dignified livelihood opportunities, with a special focus on women’s participation.
- It is a concept to establish symbiotic linkages between river and people.
- The Jalaj sites are established at different locations in the Ganga basin represent the culture and communities indigenous to that area.
- These are established as holistic Centres of overall community well-being, conservation education and livelihood trainings.
- It will have facilities for dissemination of the information on aquatic biodiversity conservation, livelihood training and sale centres for the products developed by livelihood trainees.
