Jal Jeevan Mission: Progress, Funding Challenges and Road Ahead

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The Jal Shakti Ministry has demanded Rs 2.79 lakh crore Central funds to complete the Jal Jeevan Mission Scheme.

Launched in August 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is the Government of India’s ambitious initiative to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural household.
Spearheaded by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the mission aims to ensure equitable access to safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households by 2024.
In the years since its launch, JJM has made remarkable strides but now faces funding constraints as it nears its final implementation phase.

Vision and Objectives
- The mission’s core objective is to ensure “Har Ghar Jal”, water to every household, by provisioning safe and adequate drinking water through individual tap connections by 2024. It aims to:
  - Provide 55 litres per capita per day (lpcd) of water
  - Promote sustainable water supply systems
  - Ensure community participation and transparency
  - Integrate source sustainability and greywater management
Progress and Achievements So Far
- As of March 31, 2025, nearly 14.56 crore rural households (about 73%) have been provided with tap water connections under JJM.
- 13 states and Union Territories, including Goa, Haryana, Gujarat, and Telangana, have achieved 100% coverage.
- 2.12 lakh villages have been declared “Har Ghar Jal certified” where every household has a functional tap water connection.
- 6.2 lakh village-level water and sanitation committees have been formed to ensure local involvement and monitoring.

Demand for Additional Funds
- According to media reports, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has sought an additional ₹2.79 lakh crore from the 16th Finance Commission to sustain and complete the Jal Jeevan Mission.
- However, the Finance Commission’s interim panel has only cleared a support of ₹1.42 lakh crore, roughly half the requested amount.
Breakdown of Financial Requirement
- The original outlay for the mission was ₹3.60 lakh crore (Centre and State combined).
- As of now, the Centre has allocated around ₹1.58 lakh crore and disbursed ₹1.12 lakh crore.
- The demand for additional funds stems from increased costs due to inflation, coverage expansion, and the need for operation and maintenance systems.
Implications of Funding Gap
- The reduced approval of funds could delay coverage in lagging states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Rajasthan, all of which are still under 60% coverage.
- It also raises concerns over sustainability, particularly for maintenance and source sustainability projects post-2024.

A defining feature of JJM is its emphasis on community participation.
Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) are responsible for operation, maintenance, and regular monitoring.
Capacity-building efforts include training over 4 lakh women in water quality testing using field test kits.
States are also required to prepare village action plans (VAPs) to ensure decentralised planning and execution.

Geographical Diversity: Hilly and tribal regions such as those in the Northeast and Chhattisgarh pose logistical challenges.
Water Source Sustainability: In drought-prone areas, source depletion remains a critical issue.
Human Resource Gaps: The mission has faced shortfalls in trained manpower at the village and block levels for technical and managerial roles.
Water Quality Issues: Fluoride, arsenic, and iron contamination continue to affect the potability of water in certain states.

Focus Beyond 2024
- Even though 2024 was the initial deadline, the government now appears focused on strengthening long-term water supply infrastructure. Key next steps include:
  - Setting up Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance systems.
  - Implementing greywater reuse mechanisms.
  - Transitioning to lifecycle-based budgeting for O&M.
  - Encouraging convergence with MGNREGA and SBM 2.0 for integrated water security.
Strategic Recommendations
- Increase central allocations through alternate routes such as multilateral aid or CSR partnerships.
- Prioritise lagging states with targeted assistance.
- Improve convergence with health and nutrition schemes to reinforce the water-health link.