India’s Jal Jeevan Mission: Out of 19.36 Crores rural households in the country, more than 80.38% have tap water supply

In India, about 12.34 crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)-Har Ghar Jal. By 31 March 2025, out of 19.36 crore rural households in the country, more than 15.57 crore (80.38%) households are getting tap water supply. At the same time, at the beginning of the mission, only 3.23 crore (16.7 percent) rural households had tap water connections. This information has been provided by Minister of State for Jal Shakti V. Somanna in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

The Central Government launched the centrally sponsored scheme Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in August 2019, and its aim was to provide household tap connection to every rural family by 2024. The objective of Jal Jeevan Mission is to free the mothers and sisters of rural families from the age-old practice of fetching water for their homes from far-off distances along-with certain social taboos which they had reportedly faced. The mission had also improved their health, education and socio-economic condition. The mission is making life ‘easier’ and bringing pride and dignity to rural families. The mission is based on a community approach to water and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) as a key component. Jal Jeevan Mission aims to create a people’s movement for water, making it a priority for everyone.

At the same time, the broad objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission include: –

• Providing household tap water connection (FHTC) to every rural household.

• Household tap water supply in water quality affected areas, drought prone areas, desert areas and Sansad Adarsh ​​Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages

• Prioritise the provision of water connections.

• Ensure tap water in schools, Anganwadi centres, Gram Panchayat buildings, health and wellness centres and community buildings.

• Monitoring the functionality of tap water connections.

• Promoting voluntary ownership rights among the local community through donation of cash, kind or labour.

• Ensuring the sustainability of water supply systems, including financing for water sources, infrastructure and regular operations and maintenance.

• To empower and develop human resources in water sector including construction, plumbing, electrical works, water quality management, water treatment, watershed protection etc.

• Raise awareness about the importance of safe drinking water and engage stakeholders to make clean water everyone’s responsibility.

In fact, Jal Jeevan Mission emphasises village-level planning and community participation in all water supply decisions to instill a sense of ownership in rural communities. Jal Jeevan Mission has made significant progress towards achieving its ambitious goal of providing tap water connection to every rural household in India. This mission is significantly improving the quality of life in rural areas.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the extension of Jal Jeevan Mission till 2028 with an increase in the total outlay during her Budget Speech 2025-26. This initiative not only addresses water scarcity but also empowers communities, especially women, by reducing the burden of fetching water and improving public health outcomes. The Mission’s emphasis on community participation, sustainability and technological innovation underlines its long-term vision. The Mission is transforming lives as it progresses, paving the way for a healthier and more equitable future for rural India.

Team Maverick