Jal Jeevan Mission is making strides towards providing safe and sufficient drinking water to all rural households in India by 2024. This transformative initiative led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently achieved a major milestone, reaching 73.27% of rural households with individual tap connections.
As of January 19, 2024, the total number of rural households in India stands at 19,26,09,499, out of which 14,11,29,022 now have tap connections. The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in August 2019, has been dedicated to addressing the critical issue of clean water access in rural areas.
In the financial year 2023-24, Central government released a substantial amount of Rs. 45,841.39 cr to 26 eligible states for the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission. Over the past four years, the mission has made remarkable progress, reaching nearly 14 crore tap connections by the end of 2023.
The mission’s impact extends beyond providing clean water; it plays a pivotal role in improving health and hygiene. A report by the World Health Organisation highlighted the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ program’s benefits, estimating that ensuring safely managed drinking water for all households in India could prevent nearly 400,000 deaths caused by diarrheal diseases. This achievement could also prevent approximately 14 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) related to these diseases, resulting in estimated cost savings of up to $101 billion.
Apart from health benefits, the Jal Jeevan Mission has massive potential for employment generation. A study by IIM Bangalore projects the creation of 2.8 crore person-years in the construction phase and 11.8 lakh person-years annually for operation and maintenance.
Ensuring water quality is a primary objective of the Jal Jeevan Mission. The program promotes regular testing of water samples at source and delivery points, with over 54 lakh water samples tested in laboratories as of 2023-24. Additionally, women in every village are being trained to use Field Test Kits (FTKs) for testing water quality at the grassroots level.
The broad objectives of the mission include providing Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural household, prioritizing quality-affected areas, and ensuring functional tap connections in schools, healthcare facilities, and community buildings. The mission also aims to promote voluntary ownership among local communities and empower human resources in the water sector.
As the mission progresses, efforts are underway to address unforeseen challenges and ensure the achievement of the goal of FHTCs to every household by 2024. The Jal Jeevan Mission remains a beacon of hope for millions in rural India, transforming lives and communities through accessible clean water.