India Sees Fivefold Rise in Rural Tap Water Connections, Driven by Jal Jeevan Mission

In the last five years, rural tap water connections in India surged fivefold, credited to the Jal Jeevan Mission. Since its 2019 inception, the mission connected 11.96 crore more households, totaling over 15.20 crore by October 2024, vastly improving water access and quality of life in rural areas.

India has witnessed a remarkable fivefold increase in rural households receiving tap water between 2019 and 2024. This surge, highlighted in a recent SBI report, credits the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a government initiative launched on August 15, 2019, aiming to ensure tap water access for every rural household by 2024.

Statistics from the report reveal an impressive rise in households with tap water from 3.23 crore at the mission's inception to 15.20 crore by October 2024. The additional 11.96 crore households account for 78.62 percent of India's rural homes, demonstrating significant progress towards the mission's goals.

The improved water access has profoundly affected rural life, easing the burden on women and children and promoting better health by reducing waterborne disease risks. With a budget of Rs 3.60 lakh crore, shared between the central and state governments, the JJM continues efforts to cover all 19.34 crore rural households by 2024.

(With inputs from agencies.)