New Delhi, March 11 Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil said on Wednesday that more than 15 crore rural households in the country are now receiving tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Addressing the Jal Mahotsav 2026 programme, Patil said the mission, launched in 2019 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed not only to provide tap water but also to usher in a new era of health, dignity, and convenience in rural India.
"There was a time when the responsibility of fetching water in villages mainly rested on women and children. Nearly nine crore women had to travel long distances daily to bring water, spending around 5.5 crore hours every day carrying heavy loads," he said.
"Today, they have been freed from this burden. With the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, the risk of water-borne diseases such as typhoid and malaria has also reduced," the minister added.
Patil said that more than 89 per cent of schools and over 85 per cent of anganwadi centres in rural areas have now been provided with tap water for children.
"Today, more than 15 crore rural households in the country are receiving clean drinking water through tap connections. Over 89 per cent of schools and more than 85 per cent of anganwadi centres in rural areas have also been provided safe tap water for children," he said.
Patil said that under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, the Union Cabinet, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved a grant of Rs 1.51 lakh crore to extend the mission till December 2028, which will play an important role in providing water to the remaining households and addressing existing gaps.
"The prime minister's resolve is to ensure that more than 19 crore households in the country receive clean water through tap connections," Patil said.
Highlighting women's participation, the minister said about 24.8 lakh women have been trained and provided field testing kits to check water quality, and nearly eight lakh women have already tested water samples and uploaded reports on the portal.
"This reflects the awareness among women and their commitment to ensuring water purity," he said.
Patil said the Jal Mahotsav 2026 began on March 8 with the Jal Arpan programme on the occasion of International Women's Day and will continue till March 22, which is observed as World Water Day.
Various activities are being organised across the country during this period to promote water conservation, water security, and community participation as a people's movement, he said.
Highlighting public participation in water conservation, Patil said around 44 lakh water conservation structures were created through people's participation within about a year, without government funding.
On the occasion of International Plumber Day, the minister said it is also important to remember the contributions of plumbers, technicians, and pump operators who play a crucial role in ensuring smooth water services.
"Water is not just a resource but the foundation of health, dignity, and prosperity. If we adopt water conservation and sustainable water management practices, we can build a secure and prosperous India for future generations," he said.