In rural India, where the rhythm of life has long been dictated by the daily struggle to fetch water, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched on August 15, 2019, has emerged as a transformative force.

Envisioned as a movement to deliver safe and reliable tap water to every rural household by 2024, JJM is not just about water—it’s about dignity, health, and opportunity.

With a staggering outlay of Rs 3.6 lakh crore, this flagship initiative reflects PM Modi’s unwavering commitment to uplifting India’s poorest villages, addressing a challenge that should have been tackled decades ago but required his visionary zeal to become reality.

The thought behind JJM stems from a deep understanding of rural India’s water crisis, where millions, especially women and children, spend hours daily fetching water from distant rivers, wells, or ponds. PM Modi, drawing from his experience as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, where he prioritised water conservation through initiatives such as the Jal Mandir campaign, recognised that access to clean water is foundational to development. JJM’s objective is ambitious yet clear: to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to all 19.36 crore rural households, ensuring 55 litres per capita per day of safe drinking water. Beyond infrastructure, the mission promotes source sustainability through rainwater harvesting, greywater management, and community-driven water governance via Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs). By aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 6.1, JJM aims to bridge the rural-urban divide, empower communities, and transform lives by freeing them from the drudgery of water collection.

Since its inception, JJM has made remarkable strides, transforming water access from a distant dream to a tangible reality. As of October 2024, over 15.5 crore rural households—80.39% of the total—have tap water connections, up from just 3.23 crore (17%) in 2019. This translates to an average of 85,000 households connected daily, a testament to the mission’s relentless pace. Eleven states and Union Territories—Goa, Andaman and Nicobar........

© News18