Thu Dec 12 17:46:50 UTC 2024: ## Jal Jeevan Mission Provides Clean Drinking Water to 15.2 Crore Indian Households
**New Delhi:** The Indian government’s Jal Jeevan Mission (Har Ghar Jal) has achieved a significant milestone, providing clean drinking water to 15.2 crore (152 million) rural households. Launched on August 15, 2019, with the ambitious goal of providing tap water connections to all 19.34 crore rural households by 2024, the mission has dramatically improved access to potable water in rural areas.
Before the mission’s launch, only 17% (3.23 crore) of rural households had access to piped water. The mission aimed to reach the remaining 16.10 crore households. By October 10, 2024, an additional 11.96 crore households received tap water connections, bringing the total coverage to 78.62% of rural households.
The project, costing approximately ₹3.60 lakh crore (approximately $43.5 billion USD), with the central and state governments contributing ₹2.08 lakh crore and ₹1.52 lakh crore respectively, has had a profound impact on rural lives. It has not only reduced waterborne diseases but also significantly improved the lives of women, freeing up their time and allowing increased participation in income-generating activities. Agricultural participation by women has increased by 7.4%. The mission has also reduced the percentage of households fetching water from outside the home in most states. The success of the Jal Jeevan Mission represents a major step towards improving the quality of life in rural India.
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