The Union Finance Minister announced the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) till 2028.

Provision in Budget for Jal Jeevan Mission

• The scheme has been allocated Rs 67,000 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26.
• There was a significant reduction in allocation at the revised estimate (RE) stage during the fiscal year 2024-25.

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About Jal Jeevan Mission

• The mission was launched in 2019 to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to all rural households.
• It aims to ensure 55 litres per capita per day of safe drinking water by 2024, with the deadline now extended to 2028.
• The National Rural Drinking Water Programme was restructured and merged into JJM.
• Nodal Ministry: The mission is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Type: Jal Jeevan Mission is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
  • The Centre and State funding ratio varies as follows:
    • 90:10 for Himalayan States (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh) and North-Eastern States.
    • 100% funding for Union Territories (UTs).
    • 50:50 for all other States.
• Objectives & Implementation Strategy
  • Universal Piped Water Access: The mission aims to ensure that every rural household receives tap water by 2028.
  • Community Involvement
    • Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) or Pani Samitis play a key role in implementation.
    • 50% mandatory participation from women is required in these committees.
  • State Participation: States and Union Territories sign agreements to ensure the sustainability and quality of water services.

Key Achievements Under JJM

• Coverage so far: 15 crore households representing 80 per cent of India’s rural population have been provided access to potable tap water connections.
• States that achieved 100% coverage: Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Telangana, and Mizoram have achieved full coverage.
• Union Territories that achieved 100% coverage: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu, and Puducherry have successfully provided tap water to all rural households.

Challenges Under Jal Jeevan Mission

• Budget Constraints: The 2024-25 budget cut significantly impacted the mission’s implementation.
• Infrastructure Maintenance:  Ensuring long-term operation and repair of installed taps and pipelines remains a concern.
• Continuous Water Supply:  While tap connections are being provided, ensuring continuous water flow is the next major challenge.
• Depleting Groundwater Reserves:  Excessive reliance on groundwater sources may lead to depletion and contamination, affecting long-term sustainability.

New Focus Areas Under Jal Jeevan Mission

• Groundwater Management: Implementing equitable and transparent access to groundwater for multiple uses.
• Infrastructure Quality : Emphasis on improving the quality of rural piped water supply systems.
• Operations & Maintenance (O&M) : Strengthening the O&M of water supply schemes to ensure long-term sustainability.
• Public Participation (“Jan Bhagidari”): Encouraging community involvement in planning and managing water resources.
• State Partnerships : Signing MoUs with states/UTs to enhance sustainability and citizen-centric service delivery to states which are not covered yet.
• Private Sector Involvement : Encouraging private participation under a common standards framework to improve service efficiency.

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Conclusion

The extension of Jal Jeevan Mission till 2028 reflects the government’s commitment to achieving 100% rural water coverage. The focus must now shift from infrastructure creation to sustainable water supply management. Addressing groundwater depletion, enhancing community participation, and ensuring proper maintenance will be critical in making Jal Jeevan Mission a long-term success.

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