sharpeye

  Dr. Arvind Kumar* On the occasion of World Water Day, India’s journey under the Jal Jeevan Mission stands as one of the most ambitious transformations in rural water governance globally. Launched in 2019 with the vision of ensuring Functional Household Tap Connections for every rural household, the mission has moved India from a paradigm of infrastructure scarcity to one of expanding service delivery. At the time of its inception, barely 16.7 percent of rural households had access to tap water. Today, more than 15.75 crore households over 80 percent are reported to have tap connections, reflecting an unprecedented expansion in a short span of time. This progress is both commendable and historic. It signals political commitment, administrative mobilisation, and large-scale public investment converging towards a basic human necessity safe drinking water. Several states have already declared “Har Ghar Jal” status, indicating universal coverage in terms of connections. Yet, as In...