Jal Jeevan Mission 2019 : Transforming Rural Water Access in India

AD 4nXfVTqLpJlrMfHls346A1uofLVSB4Ebe8Jmj3crA9M WEGCmh1n9 IDpPKMuKZrC9INBijuqAYwDqc 4sJwz0m1BL8d LxPBiaTGaK GTBmqWffCX lIn8gHo82tdiqu3D5w3LKRbQ?key=qe7B0nKAklXv4M nx69l F o

Policy Update

Manjeet Pawar

The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched on 15th August, 2019, was to design a provision of functional household tap connections (FHTCs) to every rural household by 2024. This ambitious program addresses a crying need for potable water, which is estimated to cover around 19 crore rural families. Prior to JJM, more than 80% of rural households did not have piped water supply, thus exposing health hazards, economic burdens, and a greater share of responsibilities for women, with children joining in later to carry water for hours every day. This mission aims at providing potable water to quality-affected and drought-prone areas while giving priority in providing connections to schools and health centres. JJM works on the basis of a differential cost-sharing model based on the following: 90:10 for the Himalayan/North-eastern states, 100% central funding for UTs, and 50:50 for other states of India. The time limit for the mission was recently extended to 2028 along with enhanced budgetary allocations.

AD 4nXfR3LzKDaa aweend2q5Q26 qCmKL4spCbKFhN7mvPC4w5s8Q3nIb4IyOviX5foBAMdE9uCb9RoeDr7D85uUEENHsYTr X4kj5rZ6dIa1EsK2mYuh4uQjhGIaerSDeUyQNt6z ARw?key=qe7B0nKAklXv4M nx69l F o

Figure 1 – Ministry of Jal Shakti – Jal Jeevan Mission Dashboard (Real-Time Data)

 Functioning

JJM endeavoured to empower the VWSCs and Gram Panchayats to play a crucially defining role through a decentralized and community-centred approach. The key activities in implementation are:

  • Village Action Plans (VAPs): Ensuring water supply systems and sustainability of sources, dealing with O&M requirements;
  •  Integrated Infrastructure Development: Construction of pipeline networks, reservoirs, and water treatment stations;
  • Technological Integration: IoT-based sensors, geo-tagging of assets, and a digital monitoring dashboard which tracks real-time data;
  • Water Quality Management: Establishing water-testing laboratories in villages and providing Field Test Kits to help monitor contamination; and
  • Capacity Building: Facilitating the training of local stakeholders and the promotion of efficient water usage.
AD 4nXedXQnNbUslKwYneuxJODGi9s9Xxqp6J5UzWIVzE9ADnOzryEaJ3uQTb59nsIl2zBiS5MiYYyGGq2xEapg3Gk9fjrHr2dqJVTgp1SpQMB6jHBmXno2poMIUeB9sNNgXyQF4VWkR?key=qe7B0nKAklXv4M nx69l F o

Figure 2 – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1993447

At the national level, execution is led by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, while implementation occurs at the state level through PHED. Financing is provided by the central and state allocation budgets, corporation CSR, and international donations.

Implementation Strategy for Universal Coverage

Development and Diversification of Source include reviving old water bodies, constructing check dams, developing spring supply in hilly regions and of course, reducing greywater treatment for non-potable reuse, diversifying sources thereby beyond groundwater supply.

Last-Mile Connectivity Solutions will apply through gravity systems in hilly terrains with solar-powered supplies in energy-deficient regions, dual-water systems which separate potable from non-potable supplies, and community-managed distribution networks.

Interlinking of Rivers and Water Transfer Projects works along with all the other water resource initiatives, like the National River Linking Project, at correcting regional imbalances within the country such as at Ken-Betwa in Madhya Pradesh/Uttar Pradesh, multi-village supplies connected to perennial rivers, and regional grid systems for bulk water transfers.

Innovative Technological Solutions provide onsite purification systems, automated chlorination and filtration units, mobile water quality-testing laboratories, and cloud monitoring of flow rates and supply schedules.

However, River interlinking projects encounter great issues regarding environmental concerns such as choking of ecology, displacements of communities, as well as altered river flows. All of these issues have delayed the implementation of technical feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments.

Geography in very high terrains and plantations of shapeless forests make inevitable personalized solutions viable at  high costs. Poor infrastructural developments existing in states such as Jharkhand take ages before commencing projects. Safe provision for drinking water becomes a problem in areas like West Bengal and Kerala due to water-quality contamination with arsenic and fluoride. For example, significant care is involved in conservation strategies through the varied evocation of drought-prone regions to ensure reliable supply in months when the water is absent due to seasonality.

Budgetary Allocation

Budgeting and planning mechanisms for JJM further signify its continued support by the government in ensuring water security in rural areas through an ever-increasing allocation pattern:

  • Beginning of the Budget Allocation (2019-20): The mission required mainly the development of institutional frameworks and pilot projects with a low allocation.
  • Phase of Scale-up (2020-21): Substantial increase in allocations for providing ever-increasing coverage and infrastructure development.
  • Substantial Investment (2021-22): Substantial support from Union Budget (Rs. 50,011 crores) to fast-track implementation.
  • Increased allocation (2025-26): An allocation for a higher ₹67,000 crore has been made in the recent budgetary allocation extending the mission timeline to 2028.
AD 4nXfU5lnugBOeJ5TQMn7Zh8J6jE87ou3MFuI9ZwZxmIsChviMigDJQL0l8g7dy8odrzzLxSiinJC 3rDCo TutAcQiYTgfx6nM24mtk4LMMfe bv0lnoU7qRdMla1aHmrdNtbGxB4eQ?key=qe7B0nKAklXv4M nx69l F o

Figure 3 – Union Budget Reports, Government of India

The funding mechanism follows a differential cost-sharing model based on geographical categories:

  • 90:10 central-state ratio for Himalayan and Northeast states,
  • 100% central funding for the Union Territory, and
  • 50:50 for other states.
AD 4nXeij6vHp45m1W3TBcJ2MzVNjkUFI8 cbnlFUDQosp9PGZvvBo9hPDls1F89HSSo4WEeX2bCicnctBBOZv7GQyyZT44ORM5ffdgVIV3q1QmQe8ov256mc1p V4BH MNwrrgEkxkH?key=qe7B0nKAklXv4M nx69l F o

Figure 4 – Jal Jeevan Mission Guidelines, Ministry of Jal Shakti

Several alternative funding sources include:

  • Corporate social responsibility,
  • Agencies and grants for international development, and
  • State-specific water and sanitation funds.

Financial management problems were documented by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) after finding that certain  states expended only 75% of their budgeted funds throughout 2020-21. The state level needs targeted interventions to improve financial performance because underutilization reveals both absorption issues and execution problems.

Performance

January 2024 will mark almost 73.4% of rural tap water coverage compared to a mere 17% as of 2019 because of JJM.

AD 4nXeUfooI5 afPv mckda0yxBBJNFXATThAhHIVRZ7GWCGdSj vRqetYWJcwgjk60WzOLGN1MIHh7dDwH5PVCjc3pdwkweW3KH0ca0ajC8UiBKhNzNzvh3YrJdTr zSx7pV 8 Fke1Q?key=qe7B0nKAklXv4M nx69l F o

Figure 5 – Jal Jeevan Mission Dashboard (E-Jal Shakti)

By February 2025, it is estimated that more than 12.20 crore rural households would have tap water connections, thus taking access levels up to 78.58%. The state level achievements vary considerably:

AD 4nXcODLPPPDoXir9i5EIvGHf7jSSr6TwYDIp xRaD1j o 6Nay8B1r4R noeTDJE2efp7J14nzhW9rDAD RC0jM0H081cHGjmtdxCtrXAJhnvQomGRj4Lnd4 4YXKSI40qkbwQb3zHA?key=qe7B0nKAklXv4M nx69l F o

Figure 6 – Ministry of Jal Shakti Reports and State Government Data

  • Full Coverage: Goa, Telangana, Haryana
  • Almost Done: Punjab, Himachal Pradesh
  • Underperforming: Several states still linger below the national average.

Operational assessments indicate that this expansion has rather increased coverage but calls out functionality. Almost 62% of households having tap connections are said to have regular and safe water supply all year round even though this national evaluation indicates their dismal fate regarding the source sustainability and maintenance of infrastructure. Planning inadequacies have been noted where many states have made unaided comprehensive Village Action Plans making poor integration between developments in infrastructure as well as community requirements.

Impact

From the onset, the Jal Jeevan Mission has brought about significant improvements in health, economy, and society. WHO estimates that universal coverage would save approximately 400,000 lives from diarrhea and 136,000 lives of children. Waterborne diseases have gone down in the coverage areas.

Economically, household tap connections save rural women about 5.5 crore hours every day that they would have otherwise spent collecting water, redirecting this time to more pressing needs of education and income-generating activities. The Mission has directly created about 5.99 million person-years of jobs and indirectly generated about 22.25 million person-years of employment.

Community empowerment has received a boost, with 2.4 million women trained in management and monitoring of water supply. The decentralization of decision-making processes adapted to local needs is promoted by Village Water and Sanitation Committees.

 Key Challenges

Some of the issues that seriously require solutions for sustainability include:

  • Resource Sustainability: Depletion of groundwater necessitates an integrated conservation strategy, including rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge.
  • Maintenance A gap: There exist functional problems in many systems that require dedicated local teams with targeted funding for O&M.
  • Water Quality: Natural and anthropogenic contamination requires community-based monitoring and testing to be strengthened.
  • Community Participation: Limited engagement in certain pockets needs more capacity building and governance structures.
  • Geographic Challenges: Difficult terrain and remote areas require tailored solutions and better planning of logistics.
  • Financial Management: Inadequate usage of project funds affects the timeline of implementation activities, demanding better supervision.
  • River Inter-Linkage: Environmental risk factors and delays in implementation of these projects are steering towards smaller eclectic solutions.
  • Climate Resilience: Supply schemes would need adaptation and retrofitting against extremes of weather.
  • Data Management: Effective monitoring shall entail a comprehensive database and a centralized system.

Way Forward

The Jal Jeevan Mission is stretching its timeline to 2028 and increasing the budget allocation to address the remaining coverage gaps and enhance infrastructure sustainability. In balancing sustainability with the rapid expansion of infrastructure, success will rely on the effective integration of strategic river interlinking projects that promote smaller interstate transfers with low ecological footprints.

AD 4nXe9EyJiI0VgjYt PKf8CRCFOe6kxziZBjf0EceLNjyZW9nrP5eIC1jpCH9znlKxLDOuEp 49 FY0T161GesfpjE54 JY6FGuhQiu9QWXjILq9sdAPKHA360Ev7Y1gBgnv7dQAO0tQ?key=qe7B0nKAklXv4M nx69l F o

Figure 7 – Ministry of Jal Shakti Reports (https://jaljeevanmission.gov.in)

A hybrid approach combining centralized with decentralized systems and innovative treatment technologies best suits the geography in overcoming persistent “last mile” connectivity issues. The renewed infrastructure quality emphasis through “Jan Bhagidari” and stronger partnerships with the states secured through dedicated MoUs guarantee the preservation of service delivery beyond the initial stage of implementation. In its systematic addressing of source sustainability and water quality-related challenges, the JJM can deliver on its promise of universal tap water access, thereby enhancing public health, gender equity, economic productivity, and social well-being, recognizing water security as a crucial pillar in the construction of a self-reliant `New India’ for every rural citizen.

For the mission’s subsequent success, the balancing of rapid expansion with sustainability considerations would be paramount. The carefully planned integration of river interlinking projects with the JJM objectives must put in place environmental safeguards that guarantee long-term water security with no ecological hurt. Regional solutions for smaller water transfers may even provide more immediate benefits than interlinking projects which are larger and have major implementation bottlenecks.

For remote and geographically challenging areas, a hybrid approach combining centralized and decentralized systems appears most promising. Technological innovations in water treatment and distribution systems, coupled with community ownership models, can overcome the “last mile” connectivity challenges that traditional infrastructure approaches struggle to address.

The renewed focus on infrastructure quality and maintenance through “Jan Bhagidari” (community participation) offers a promising approach. Strengthened state partnerships through dedicated MoUs will ensure sustained service delivery beyond initial implementation.

By systematically addressing emerging challenges, particularly source sustainability and water quality assurance, JJM can fulfill its promise of universal tap water access. This achievement would significantly contribute to public health improvements, gender equity, economic productivity, and social welfare—key pillars in building a self-reliant India where water security is guaranteed for all rural citizens.

References 

About the Contributor: Manjeet Pawar is a Master’s student in Natural Resources and Governance at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Hyderabad, and a Policy Research Intern at IMPRI. Their work focuses on policy research, evidence-based policy formulation, and climate advocacy.

Acknowledgement: The author would like to express sincere gratitude to Dr Arjun Kumar, Dr Vaishali Singh, Aasthaba Jadeja and the IMPRI team for giving the opportunity for writing the article.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

Read more at IMPRI:

Modi Courts Trump While Keeping India’s Trade Defenses Up

Her Cash, Her Power: The Impact of Cash Transfers on Women

Author

Related Posts

Talk to Us