Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted the Jal Jeevan Mission’s role in empowering women, particularly in rural areas.
Launched in August 2019, the mission aims to provide functional tap water connections to every rural household in India.
PM Modi pointed out that women, who previously had to travel long distances to fetch clean water, can now access it right at their doorstep. This shift, he said, allows women to focus more on skill development and self-reliance.
In a post on X, PM Modi said: “A good perspective on how Jal Jeevan Mission is furthering women empowerment, especially in our rural areas. With clean water at their doorstep, women can now focus on skill development and self-reliance.”
Since its inception, the mission has made significant strides. From just 3.23 crore (17 percent) rural households with tap water connections in 2019, an additional 11.96 crore new connections have been provided by October 2024.
Currently, more than 15.35 crore, or 79.31 percent, households have access to tap water, according to government data.
The mission has achieved 100 percent tap water coverage in 11 states and union territories: Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Daman and Diu & Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Haryana, Puducherry, Telangana, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram.
A recent report by the State Bank of India highlighted the broader impact of the initiative.
Rural households across India have seen an 8.3 percentage point reduction in the need to fetch water from outside their premises. This has led to a 7.4 percentage point rise in women’s participation in agriculture and other productive activities.
The report also noted significant progress in states like Bihar and Assam, where female workforce participation has surged by over 28 percentage points.
(With IANS input)