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4 days ago
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Opinion: How PM Modi's Jal Jeevan Mission Became A Boon For India's Poorest Villages
Last Updated: The Jal Jeevan Mission is more than a water supply programme — it's a lifeline for India's poorest villages, redefining rural life with dignity, health, and opportunity jal jeevanIn 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 Vision and Objective of Jal Jeevan Mission 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 Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Gujarat, Haryana, Telangana, Puducherry, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram—have achieved 100% coverage, setting a benchmark for others. In aspirational districts, home to some of India's poorest communities, tap connections have risen from 31 lakh to 1.16 crore, with 123 districts and 1.53 lakh villages now fully covered. However, progress is uneven. States like Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Kerala lag significantly behind the national average. Challenges in these states include uneven terrain, scattered habitations, groundwater contamination, and delays in state funding. To address these, the government has intensified monitoring, with technical support from UNOPS and Denmark in water-scarce regions like Bundelkhand and Vindhya. Despite these hurdles, JJM's focus on prioritising difficult terrains (30% funding weightage) and SC/ST-dominated areas (10% weightage) ensures that the poorest and most remote communities are not left behind. A Boon for Hilly Areas In India's hilly regions, where geography poses unique challenges, JJM has been a game-changer. In states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh, the mission has overcome rugged terrain and seasonal water shortages to deliver tap water. For instance, Leh in Ladakh achieved 100% household coverage by October 2024, with winter-proof pipelines preventing freezing—a critical adaptation for high-altitude areas. In Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, 31,371 households across 320 villages now have FHTCs, reducing the time spent fetching water from distant sources. Women in these regions, who once navigated treacherous paths to collect water, now benefit from doorstep access, saving hours daily. Community-driven initiatives, supported by organizations like Himmotthan Society, have trained locals to maintain water infrastructure, ensuring sustainability despite climatic barriers. These efforts demonstrate JJM's ability to tailor solutions to the unique needs of hilly areas, bringing dignity and ease to remote communities. Enhancing Rural Life: Education, Health, and Beyond The ripple effects of JJM extend far beyond water access, reshaping education, health, and socio-economic conditions in rural India. By providing tap water to 15.5 crore households, the mission has freed women and girls from the backbreaking task of fetching water, which previously consumed hours daily—40 minutes one way in Jharkhand, 33 in Bihar, and 38 in Uttar Pradesh. In Tripura, 95% of women and adolescent girls reported relief from this drudgery, allowing them to pursue education and livelihoods. An SBI Research report notes an 8.3% decline in households fetching water outside, correlating with a 7.4% increase in women's participation in agriculture, with states like Bihar and Assam seeing over 28% growth in female workforce engagement. This shift empowers women financially and redefines gender roles, fostering independence and dignity. Health outcomes have also improved dramatically. JJM's focus on water quality, through Field Testing Kits and Iron Removal Plants in high-contamination areas like Tripura, has reduced waterborne diseases by 93% in some regions. In Leh, disease incidence dropped from 4% to 1.3%, while Karnataka villages reported lower healthcare costs due to cleaner water. Schools, too, have benefited from the scheme: 12 states have achieved 100% tap water coverage in schools, ensuring better hygiene and reducing absenteeism, particularly among girls. These improvements enhance educational outcomes and create healthier, more productive communities. Economically, JJM stimulates rural growth by fostering local ownership through VWSCs, with over 50% women members in Assam and Tripura. Awareness campaigns, such as 560 training sessions in Karnataka and tariff collection in Leh and Himachal Pradesh, ensure long-term sustainability. By reducing time spent on water collection, JJM unlocks opportunities for income-generating activities, positioning India's rural economy to grow from 2% to 8% of the global space market by 2033. PM Modi's Visionary Zeal: A Long-Overdue Revolution The success of JJM reflects Prime Minister Modi's visionary zeal and unrelenting drive to execute transformative change on a war footing. Decades ago, India's rural water crisis should have been addressed, but it languished under leaders disconnected from the ground realities of village life. PM Modi, shaped by his experiences in drought-prone Gujarat, understood the 'agony of life without water". His insistence on decentralization—empowering Gram Panchayats and Pani Samitis with over ₹2.25 lakh crore—has made JJM a village-driven, women-led movement. The mission's scale, covering 600,000 villages and connecting 85,000 households daily, is unprecedented, surpassing seven decades of prior efforts in just five years. PM Modi's personal commitment is evident in his words: 'The value of water is understood by those who face scarcity." By prioritising water as a national mission, he has turned a basic need into a catalyst for social revolution. The Jal Jeevan Mission App and Water Quality Monitoring Framework ensure transparency, while partnerships with states, UNOPS, and Denmark amplify impact. This resolve, coupled with innovative solutions like IoT-based sensors and climate-resilient infrastructure, positions JJM as a global model for sustainable development. What should have happened generations ago took PM Modi's will to transform rhetoric into reality, ensuring no rural family is left behind. A Legacy of Transformation top videos View all The Jal Jeevan Mission is more than a water supply programme —it's a lifeline for India's poorest villages, redefining rural life with dignity, health, and opportunity. From the hills of Ladakh to the plains of Assam, JJM has delivered tap water to 15.5 crore households, empowered women, reduced disease, and unlocked educational and economic potential. While challenges remain in laggard states, the mission's progress—driven by PM Modi's visionary leadership—sets a new standard for public welfare. As India moves toward universal water access, JJM stands as a testament to what is possible when a nation unites with purpose, proving that clean water is not just a resource but a foundation for a brighter, more equitable future. The writer is a well-known author and national spokesperson of BJP. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 13, 2025, 20:00 IST News opinion Opinion: How PM Modi's Jal Jeevan Mission Became A Boon For India's Poorest Villages Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mains answer practice — GS 2: Questions on Jal Jeevan Mission and India-UK Free Trade Agreement (Week 103)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today's answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-2 to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to every rural household in India. Despite significant progress in infrastructure, disparities in actual water usage persist. Critically examine. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is projected to yield multiple economic benefits for India, including enhanced bilateral trade, integration into global supply chains, and increased foreign investments. Discuss. Introduction — The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction. — It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts. Body — It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content. — The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points. — Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse. — Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer. — Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required. Way forward/ conclusion — The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction. — You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers. Self Evaluation — It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers. QUESTION 1: The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to every rural household in India. Despite significant progress in infrastructure, disparities in actual water usage persist. Critically examine. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the central government's flagship project, is currently suffering serious structural and functional issues. The JJM was established in 2019 with the goal of providing 100 percent functional household tap connections (FHTC) by 2024. — According to the most recent NSSO data, the government has made great headway, with nearly 90% of rural families having access to a tap connection. The government plans to cover the remaining homes by 2028. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — There is a significant difference in tap water access and consumption, with only 39% of rural households using taps as their major source (NSS 79th Round, 2022-23). Furthermore, how tap water is used varies greatly by region. Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha have very low tap usage rates ranging from 6% to 30%. The disparity between tap water access and use suggests that the JJM has significant functioning issues. — Reports reveal a reduction in financial assistance by the central government, bureaucratic irregularities at the state level, and scams in constructing JJM's infrastructure, which has slowed down JJM's progress. Increasing financial burdens, coupled with incomplete infrastructure and a lack of transparency in the provision of the tender, leave JJM with an uncertain future. — Structural issues necessitate consideration from both central, state, and local governments. It is critical to understand how tap water infrastructures are maintained and managed in everyday life, as well as what factors aid in closing the gap between tap access and use. — As a result of worldwide debates and constitutional reforms, some countries have attempted to establish a decentralised and community-driven drinking water system. However, we have yet to establish a decentralised method. Local institutions and players responsible for tap water supply have limited financial and technical autonomy. It is critical to address the social and spatial problems that these institutions encounter when placing taps, as well as whether they are technically capable of managing water quality and quantity and supplying it on time. — There is an urgent need to strengthen grievance resolution channels and methods. Another major problem is that administrative-level data does not accurately reflect reality on the ground. The JJM display reveals that many villages and areas have 100% tap water availability. However, it used outdated census data to determine tap water access. — The JJM also involves material considerations for water, infrastructure, and families. The concern over unpredictable climate, untimely precipitation, and surface and groundwater depletion has had an impact on water quality, quantity, and a timely and appropriate drinking water supply. — Leakage, breakage, disruption, breakdown, and suspension are all valid concerns, alongside others. An efficient tap water supply necessitates ongoing repair and maintenance efforts. Conclusion: — The position of the water tank, as well as the distance between residences and the tank, are critical to receiving enough pressure. Furthermore, involving different caste groups in local-level institutions (for example, as plumbers, pump operators, and engineers) is critical for an efficient tap water supply as well as repair and maintenance operations. — With an expanding population and insufficient secure infrastructure, rural communities are once again trapped in water source precarity, dependence, and economic hardship. The Jal Jeevan Mission's future must include these components in order to have an efficient supply chain. (Source: Many challenges of Jal Jeevan Mission: Decentralisation is the only way ahead) Points to Ponder Read more about JJM Read about other schemes under Ministry of Jal Shakti Related Previous Year Questions In a crucial domain like the public healthcare system, the Indian State should play a vital role in containing the adverse impact of the marketisation of the system. Suggest measures through which the State can enhance the reach of public healthcare at the grassroots level. (2024) 'To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing water, sanitation and hygiene needs, the identification of beneficiary segments is to be synchronized with the anticipated outcomes'. Examine the statement in the context of the WASH scheme. (2017) QUESTION 2: The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is projected to yield multiple economic benefits for India, including enhanced bilateral trade, integration into global supply chains, and increased foreign investments. Discuss. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — In a world economy plagued by trade disputes and fears about decreasing trade growth, the conclusion of India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) talks is a significant milestone. — After 15 rounds of rigorous negotiations since January 2022, a historic free trade deal was struck in principle on May 6. However, installation will require some time. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — The FTA appears to abolish tariffs on roughly 99 percent of Indian exports to the UK, creating considerable commercial prospects. — The pact might also result in significant benefits in services, with the UK promising ambitious market access promises and easier transfer of Indian specialists to the UK. — Parallel negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) to protect investments between the two countries may be more difficult to conclude. Disagreements regarding dispute resolution processes and investor protections may impede development on the BIT. — FTAs are well suited to India's fast growing economy, which is rising at more than 6% per year in a global economy growing at half that rate. For Britain, signing trade agreements with the United States and India at the same time signals a re-engagement with the two largest democracies and their markets following Brexit. — Geopolitical signalling is important in this transaction. The free trade agreement between the world's fourth and sixth largest economies comes at a time when the Trump administration's reciprocal tariff policies are generating economic uncertainty. This has rekindled previously dormant negotiations about concluding FTAs between like-minded countries. — An India-EU free trade agreement, in conjunction with an India-UK free trade agreement, has the potential to alter global trade rules and even resuscitate the World Trade Organisation. Potential economic benefits for India — Lowering trade and regulatory barriers through the FTA will stimulate specialisation and commerce based on comparative advantage between India and the United Kingdom. — India is a minor contributor in global supply chains, accounting for approximately 1.5 percent of goods exports in 2023. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement provides incentives for multinational corporations such as Apple to invest in export-oriented Indian manufacturing capacity, as well as the possibility of India potentially supplying the UK market. — As tariffs are reduced under the bilateral FTA, consumers will benefit from more access to high-quality products and lower pricing. — The FTA is a step towards India's inclusion in the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The CPTPP, a high-standard, massive FTA that lowers trade barriers for its members but which India declined to join, accounts for a significant portion of global commerce. Conclusion: — The India–UK FTAs are an enabling condition for India's growth and influence in the global economy. Countries that use FTAs as a springboard to implement broad economic reforms and address supply-side issues will reap the most geopolitical and economic benefits. (Source: Four ways in which India gains from an FTA with the UK) Points to Ponder Read about India and UK trade relations Read about FTA Related Previous Year Questions What are the key areas of reform if the WTO has to survive in the present context of 'Trade War', especially keeping in mind the interest of India? (2018) Discuss the geopolitical and geostrategic importance of the Maldives for India with a focus on global trade and energy flows. Further, discuss how this relationship affects India's maritime security and regional stability amidst international competition. 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