Government of India is committed to make provision for safe & potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on a regular & long-term basis to all rural households in the country. Towards this end, the Government of India launched the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), to be implemented in partnership with states, in August 2019. Drinking Water is a state subject, and hence, the responsibility of planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the Jal Jeevan Mission, lies with State/UT Governments. The Government of India supports the States by providing technical and financial assistance.

Under JJM, the minimum service delivery has been fixed as 55 lpcd and State/UTs including the states of the North East may enhance the same to higher level depending on availability of drinking water sources. Significant progress has been made in the country since the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission, towards enhancing access to tap water to rural households. At the start of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 3.23 Crore (16.71%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 12.03.2025, around 12.28 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 12.03.2025, out of 19.36 Crore rural households in the country, more than 15.52 Crore (80.15%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes. The details including States of the North East (State of Sikkim also) are available on JJM-IMIS Dashboard. The link of JJM-IMIS Dashboard is as follows:- https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx

As informed by the State of Sikkim, all the habitations, excluding few habitations in the dry belt area of Namchi and Pakyong District, are getting adequate drinking water in the state even during the lean season.

The reason for the shortage of drinking water in the dry belt areas during the lean season is drying up of local sources. The State of Sikkim has plan to take up source sustainability measures such as dhara Vikash in these areas. Further, rain water harvesting is also being encouraged in these areas.

Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources, including rural drinking water supply, are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. To supplement the efforts of the States for rural water supply, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a centrally sponsored scheme, is being implemented in partnership with States, since August, 2019 for provisioning of potable tap water supply to every rural household in the country.

Water Resources Projects are planned, funded, executed, and maintained by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priority. However, to supplement their efforts, Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to State Governments to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programmes.

Apart from continuous efforts for rejuvenation of natural sources of water through campaigns such as the Jal Shakti Abhiyaan (JSA) was launched in the year 2019 and carried out subsequently in 2021-2024 too and the Atal Bhujal Yojana etc., storage capacities for water are augmented through construction of reservoirs.  Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2023, 4th in the series of JSA’s theme was " Source Sustainability for Drinking Water". The theme of Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain – 2024 was "Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti" emphasising the pivotal role played by women in the field of water conservation.

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI, SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Dhanya Sanal K

Director

(Rajya Sabha US Q1834)

 

 

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