Soon, All Rural Homes May Have Drinkable Tap Water Here

Despite a worldwide pandemic, India’s mission to bring tap water to every rural household in the country by 2024 is more than halfway completed with 57% of homes now connected to potable water.

“A great feat, indicative of the ground covered to ensure ‘Har Ghar Jal’ [a tap water scheme initiated by the Ministry of Jal Shakti under Jal Jeevan Mission]”, commends Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Congratulations to all those who have benefitted from this initiative and compliments to those working on the ground to make this mission a success.”

Before the launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019, only 32.3 million out of 193.5 million rural households had access to potable water. In three years – despite being temporarily brought to a halt because of Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown – more than 110 million households have been connected, representing 56.84% of all rural homes in India. Local government systems – or Panchayats – will receive funding to manage water resources, and the concept of inter-basin transfer or interlinking of rivers is also promoted to complete the mission.