Rewiring Rural Water Governance: Real Test Begins Now?
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 India celebrates these gains, a deeper and more
critical question emerges: have we truly achieved Har Ghar Jal, or have
we only reached Har Ghar Connection?
The
distinction is crucial. Evidence suggests that while infrastructure coverage
has expanded rapidly, service delivery remains uneven. A significant proportion
of households do not receive water in adequate quantity, at regular intervals,
or with assured quality. Functionality assessments indicate that although tap
access is widespread, only about four-fifths of households receive water that
meets basic norms of adequacy and reliability, and an even smaller proportion
receive water that meets prescribed quality standards. This reveals a
structural gap between infrastructure creation and sustainable service
delivery.
Coverage
Achieved, Sustainability Pending
The
most pressing challenge lies in the sustainability of water sources. India
continues to rely heavily on groundwater, much of which is already under severe
stress. Climate change is intensifying this vulnerability, with nearly 40
percent of districts facing high or very high climate risks to their water
systems due to droughts, erratic rainfall, floods, and heatwaves. In many
regions, declining aquifers and seasonal variability are already leading to
disruptions in supply. Without integrating source sustainability, aquifer
management, and climate-resilient planning into the mission, the risk remains
that today’s infrastructure could become tomorrow’s stranded assets.
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| Iamge source- https://www.constructionworld. |
Equally
important is the question of functionality and governance. The shift from
schemes to services requires strong local institutions, yet many Village Water
and Sanitation Committees lack the technical capacity, financial autonomy, and
institutional support needed to manage complex water systems. Operation and
maintenance remain weak links, often constrained by inadequate revenue models,
irregular tariff collection, and limited availability of skilled personnel. As
the mission progresses towards more remote and vulnerable geographies, these
governance challenges are likely to intensify.
Water
quality adds another layer of complexity. Large parts of rural India continue
to face contamination from fluoride, arsenic, iron, and microbial pollutants.
While the mission has expanded testing infrastructure and community-based
monitoring, ensuring consistent water safety requires a shift from episodic
testing to comprehensive water safety planning. The continued incidence of
waterborne diseases indicates that access to infrastructure alone does not
guarantee public health outcomes.
Within
this broader landscape, the issue of equity and particularly gender empowerment
deserves closer scrutiny. The Jal Jeevan Mission has rightly emphasised women’s
participation, mandating that at least 50 percent of Village Water and
Sanitation Committee members be women. It has also promoted the involvement of
women in water quality testing and local management. On paper, this represents
a progressive and inclusive framework.
However,
the critical question remains: has this translated into real empowerment, or is
it largely nominal? In many cases, women’s participation continues to be
procedural rather than substantive. Decision-making power often remains
concentrated with traditional local elites, while women’s roles are limited to
implementation support or voluntary responsibilities. The burden of ensuring
water access historically borne by women has in some instances been
reconfigured rather than reduced, with expectations that they manage systems
without adequate remuneration, training, or authority. True empowerment would
require not just representation, but leadership, financial control, capacity
building, and recognition of women as central actors in water governance rather
than peripheral participants.
The
last mile challenge further complicates the picture. The remaining unserved
households are often located in remote, tribal, and water-scarce regions where
infrastructure costs are high and service delivery is difficult. These are also
the communities most vulnerable to exclusion. Ensuring that no one is left
behind will require tailored, context-specific solutions rather than uniform
approaches.
Recognising
both achievements and gaps, the government has extended the mission into a new
phase often referred to as JJM 2.0 with a significantly enhanced financial
outlay. This phase must mark a decisive shift from infrastructure expansion to
service sustainability. It calls for integrating water supply with watershed
management, climate adaptation, and demand-side interventions. It requires
strengthening local governance systems, professionalising operation and
maintenance, and ensuring sustainable financing mechanisms. It also
necessitates robust digital monitoring frameworks that track not just
connections, but service quality, reliability, and user satisfaction.
Way
Forward
At
a broader level, the Jal Jeevan Mission exemplifies the principle of water
transversality where water is not viewed in isolation, but as a foundational
element linking health, nutrition, livelihoods, gender equality, and climate
resilience. Its success or failure will have cascading implications across
multiple Sustainable Development Goals. As India reflects on its progress this
World Water Day, it must move beyond celebrating numbers to interrogating
outcomes. The goal is no longer merely to provide a tap in every household, but
to ensure that water flows reliably, safely, and sustainably through that tap.
The transition from Har Ghar Jal to Har Ghar Surakshit, Niyamit aur
Parayapt Jal will define the next phase of India’s water journey. In the
end, the true measure of success will not be the number of connections created,
but the trust of citizens that when they turn the tap, water will flow clean,
sufficient, and dependable.
*
President, India Water Foundation
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