Social and Economic Transformation through Jal Jeevan Mission

Smiles Return to Women in Remote Dantewada Villages

Raipur : The Jal Jeevan Mission has brought significant social and economic change in remote regions of South Bastar (Dantewada) district. Access to clean drinking water has visibly uplifted the lives of rural residents, especially women.

Sumitra Bhaskar, a resident of Bhairamband—a dependent village under Balpet Gram Panchayat—shared her experience. “Earlier, I had to cross the main road and walk a long distance to fetch water from a hand pump. During summer, I would wait for hours. For bathing and washing clothes, I had to take my children to the river. My entire day revolved around fetching 5–7 buckets of water and managing household chores,” she said. Her story reflects the struggles of many rural women in the area who spent most of their time at rivers, wells, and hand pumps to collect water for their families.

However, the scenario has changed. Thanks to the Jal Jeevan Mission, these women now have access to safe drinking water at home and are beginning to shape a better future for themselves and their children.

Sumitra expressed her relief, saying, “Fetching water used to be the biggest challenge of my life, leaving no time for anything else. I’m a member of the Saraswati Self-Help Group, but I could rarely participate. Now, with water at home, I have time for training in fashion design at the Livelihood College.”

Bhairamband village, located 7 km from Dantewada headquarters, has 60 households and a population of 323. The village comprises three hamlets—Patelpara, Rautpara, and Schoolpara—with one primary school and one anganwadi center. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a plan worth ₹11.5 lakh was implemented, which included upgrading 3 GI structures and laying 1400 meters of pipeline to ensure every household received piped water.

Today, not only are households getting clean water, but schools and anganwadis also have access to safe drinking water for children and mid-day meals. Sumitra shared that water is now available at home by 7 a.m. daily. After sending her children to school and completing housework by 9 a.m., she takes the Livelihood College bus for her stitching course and returns by 4 p.m. “My day is now well-structured. Jal Jeevan Mission has not only freed me from the burden of fetching water but also allowed me to pursue my dream of self-employment,” she said. She plans to start her own tailoring unit after completing her training.

Praising the initiative, Sumitra added, “The mission has given me clean water and a new life. Earlier, using hand pump water and bathing in the river affected our health. Medical expenses and family troubles followed. Now, with clean tap water, my whole family is healthier. We women thank the government for bringing Jal Jeevan Mission to our village.”