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Introduction

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, with the ambitious goal of providing tap water supply to every rural household by 2024. At the time of its inception, only 3.23 crore (17%) of rural households had tap water connections. The mission aims to bridge this gap by providing nearly 16 crore additional households with tap water by 2024, ensuring the functionality of existing water supply systems, and directly benefiting over 19 crore rural families. This initiative is intended to reduce the rural-urban divide and enhance public health.

Jal Jeevan Mission also strives for the freedom of mothers and sisters from centuries old drudgery of fetching water for the household, and improving their health, education and socio- economic condition. The Mission is bringing ‘ease of living’ and adding pride and dignity to rural families. Jal Jeevan Mission also implements source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through greywater management, water conservation and rainwater harvesting. The Mission is based on a community approach to water and will include extensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) as a key component. JJM looks to create a janandolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority.

Source: https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx

Key Achievements

As of October 6, 2024, Jal Jeevan Mission has successfully provided tap water connections to 11.95 crore additional rural households, bringing the total coverage to more than 15.19 crore households, which accounts for 78.58% of all rural households in India. The mission has reached a significant milestone, profoundly impacting the lives of rural people by providing them with reliable access to potable water in their homes.

 

Objectives

The broad objectives of the Jal Jeevan Mission include:

 

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Components under JJM

The following components are supported under JJM:

 

• Efforts should be made to source funds from different sources/ programmes and convergence is the key.
• Development of in-village piped water supply infrastructure to provide tap water connections to every rural household.
• Development and augmentation of reliable drinking water sources to ensure long- term sustainability.
• Bulk water transfer, treatment plants, and distribution networks where necessary.
• Technological interventions for contaminant removal in areas with water quality issues.
• Retrofitting of ongoing and completed schemes to provide FHTCs at a minimum service level of 55 liters per capita per day (lpcd).

 

• Greywater management.
• Support activities such as Information, Education, and Communication (IEC), Human Resource Development (HRD), training, utility development, water quality.
• laboratories, research and development, capacity building of communities, etc.
• Addressing unforeseen challenges due to natural disasters or calamities, as per Ministry of Finance guidelines on Flexi Funds.

 

Impact of JJM

The implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission has brought significant improvements in rural life, as highlighted by several national and international institutions:

 

 

 

 

 

Quality Assurance and Monitoring

To ensure the long-term sustainability of infrastructure, JJM emphasizes quality construction and materials, with third-party inspections before payments are made. The mission also incorporates advanced technologies such as sensor-based IoT solutions for water supply measurement, AADHAR linking for targeted delivery, and geo-tagging of assets. Transparency and effective monitoring are ensured through the online 'JJM dashboard' and mobile app, providing real-time progress updates.

Source: https://ejalshakti.gov.in/WQMIS/

 

Community Involvement

To instill a sense of ownership among rural communities, JJM emphasizes village-level planning and community participation in all water supply decisions. Initiatives under the mission include:

• The formation of 5.32 lakh Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) or Pani Samitis, with at least 50% women members and representation from marginalized communities, to manage water supply systems.
• Training five women from each village to test water samples using Field Test Kits (FTKs). As of 2024-25, 24.64 lakh women have been trained, and over 54.20 lakh samples have been tested.
• Engaging over 14,000 NGOs, voluntary organizations, women's self-help groups, and community-based organizations as Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs) to facilitate community participation in planning, implementing, managing, and maintaining water supply systems.

 

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2042989

 

Challenges and Solutions

The mission faces several challenges, such as a lack of dependable water sources in certain areas, groundwater contamination, uneven geographical terrain, scattered rural habitations, and delays in obtaining statutory clearances etc. To address these challenges, the Government of India has taken various steps, including financial assistance through the Ministry of Finance, the appointment of nodal officers to coordinate with central ministries, the establishment of State and District Programme Management Units, and the implementation of the 'Nal Jal Mitra Programme' to ensure the availability of skilled personnel at the village level.

 

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain

Recognizing the importance of sustainable water management, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) campaign was launched in 2019, focusing on water conservation through people's participation. In 2023, the campaign emphasized 'Source Sustainability for Drinking Water,' and in 2024, it was implemented with the theme 'Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti,' highlighting the crucial role of women in water conservation.

 

Progress Under the Mission (as of October 6, 2024)

• 15.19 crore (78.58 %) of rural households in the country have been provided with tap water connection.
• The latest status of the Har Ghar Jal initiative shows that 165 districts have reported their progress (indicating that tap water is being supplied to all households, schools, and Anganwadi centres as confirmed by the water supply department), with 97 of them certified (Gram Sabha resolution passed after verifying the water supply). In terms of blocks, 1,805 have reported, and 835 have been certified. At the panchayat level, 1,13,085 have submitted reports, and 73,518 have achieved certification. For villages, 2,40,076 have reported, and 1,39,022 have been certified under the initiative.
• The Government of India accords priority to Japanese Encephalitis (JE)-Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) affected Districts to ensure potable tap water supply in all the households under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Over 2.35 Crore households (79.21%) in JE-AES water quality-affected regions are getting access to clean tap water.
• 11 States/UTs, which include, Goa, A &N Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu, Haryana, Telangana, Puducherry, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh have provided tap water connection to all rural households (100%) in the respective State/UT.
• Till date 9,29,805 schools and 9,66,805 Anganwadi centres have tap water supply.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Jal Jeevan Mission has made remarkable strides toward achieving its ambitious goal of providing every rural household in India with a functional tap water connection. With over 15.19 crore households, numerous schools, and Anganwadi centres now benefitting from reliable access to clean water, the mission is significantly improving the quality of life in rural areas. This initiative not only addresses water scarcity but also empowers communities, particularly women, by alleviating the burden of water collection and enhancing public health outcomes. The mission’s emphasis on community participation, sustainability, and technological innovation underscores its long-term vision. As the mission progresses, it continues to transform lives and foster a healthier, more equitable future for rural India.

References:

• https://pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=151017&ModuleId=3
• https://pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=150994&ModuleId=3
• https://jaljeevanmission.gov.in/
• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2042989
• https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjm/citizen_corner/villageinformation.aspx
• https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx
• https://pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=152025&ModuleId=3&reg=3&lang=1

Jal Jeevan Mission: Ensuring Tap Water for 15 Crore Rural Families

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Santosh Kumar/ Sheetal Angral/ Saurabh Kalia

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