India Brings Safe Drinking Water to Over 12 Crore Rural Families Under Jal Jeevan Mission
Today, around 15.82 crore out of nearly 19.36 crore rural families, or 81.7 percent, can access water directly through taps.
India Brings Safe Drinking Water to Over 12 Crore Rural Families Under Jal Jeevan Mission
Access to piped water has expanded rapidly in India’s villages, with more than 12.58 crore additional rural households receiving tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Minister of State for Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, said the mission has transformed rural water supply since its launch in August 2019, when only 3.23 crore households, or roughly 17 percent, had access to tap water. Today, around 15.82 crore out of nearly 19.36 crore rural families, or 81.7 percent, can access water directly through taps.
Somanna highlighted that the mission aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6.1, which aims to provide adequate, safe, and affordable drinking water to every rural household by 2030. He added that the scheme has been extended until 2028.
The minister also said that states and union territories have been advised to install community water purification plants in arsenic- and fluoride-affected areas. These will ensure safe drinking and cooking water until piped supply networks are fully operational.