Water quality testing under Yogi govt: Jal Jeevan Mission becomes a new source of income for rural women

Women playing a key role in ensuring clean water supply in 97,000 villages across the state

Around 63,700 water quality samples tested so far in the current financial year

Long wait for water testing eliminated, immediate prevention of water-borne diseases now possible

Lucknow, May 2026 : In Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Government has transformed the Field Testing Kit (FTK) campaign under the Jal Jeevan Mission into a major medium for women empowerment and self-reliance. By connecting special groups of women across more than 97,000 villages of the state with this initiative, the government is not only ensuring clean and quality rural drinking water supply, but is also making women technically capable. The honorarium received for testing the purity of water in villages has also opened new avenues of additional income and self-employment for rural women.

Prabhas Kumar, Special Secretary and Executive Director of Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply Department, stated, “Under this mission, groups of 05 women each have been provided with Field Testing Kits in almost all Gram Panchayats and revenue villages across the state. At present, trained women in approximately 97,070 villages of the state are actively carrying out water quality testing work. These women are regularly testing water samples from drinking water sources and household taps in their respective areas. The continuity of this quality testing process can be gauged from the fact that around 63,700 water quality samples have already been tested so far in the current financial year.”

At the village level, these women are identifying harmful chemicals and bacteria in pipelines, tube wells and other drinking water sources through FTKs. In case of suspicious or contaminated water sources, they immediately inform the department so that various water-borne diseases caused by contaminated water can be prevented without delay.

Earlier, people had to wait for a long time for water testing, but now through Field Testing Kits, it has become possible to take immediate action as soon as contaminated water sources are identified.

This programme is not only ensuring the purity of water, but is also becoming a means of economic empowerment for rural women. The women associated with Field Testing work are being paid honorarium according to the prescribed rates for the testing work carried out by them. They are being paid Rs 20 per test, with a maximum payment of Rs 400 for up to 20 tests.

This arrangement has become an excellent medium for women living in rural areas to earn additional income and connect with self-employment.

Technical training provided to women

To make women capable of carrying out this work, special technical training has been provided under the ‘Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Programme’ of the Jal Jeevan Mission. Important points have been included in this training programme:

1. Proper operation of the Field Testing Kit (FTK).
2. Safe collection of water samples from various drinking water sources.
3. Detailed testing of various parameters present in water.
4. Recording the reporting prepared after testing in the mobile app and register.
5. Obtaining other essential information related to safe drinking water standards and cleanliness.