Rural Tap Water Coverage Rises from 17% to 82% Under Jal Jeevan Mission: President

President Droupadi Murmu has said that access to tap water in rural India has increased dramatically since the launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019, with household coverage rising from 17% to around 82%.

Highlighting the government’s efforts to improve basic infrastructure in villages, the President noted that when the programme was introduced, only about 3.23 crore rural households had access to piped drinking water. Over the past few years, that number has grown substantially, with more than 15 crore rural homes now connected to tap water supply.

The initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, with the aim of providing safe and adequate drinking water to every rural household through functional tap connections. The programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in partnership with state governments.

According to the President, the rapid expansion of the scheme has brought major relief to rural communities. Women and children, who often spent hours collecting water from distant sources, have particularly benefited from easier access to drinking water at home. Improved water supply has also contributed to better health, sanitation, and overall quality of life in villages.

The mission also promotes sustainable water management practices. Measures such as rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and greywater management are being encouraged to ensure long-term water security and responsible use of resources.

Officials say work is continuing to expand the network to cover the remaining households. With millions of new connections added over the years, the Jal Jeevan Mission has emerged as one of the country’s largest rural infrastructure programmes aimed at ensuring universal access to safe drinking water.