SENAPATI, Nov 7: In a surprising revelation that has sparked outrage among residents, a fact-finding mission by Youth Rise for Change (YR4C) has unearthed widespread mismanagement and possible corruption in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Senapati district. Despite government claims of 100% functional household tap connection (FHTC) coverage, several villages remain without access to basic drinking water facilities.

During its recent visit to five villages in and around Senapati district headquarters, the YR4C team found that the promises made under the JJM scheme exist largely on paper. In Khabung Karong village, which falls under the New Development Bank (NDB) scheme, villagers were supplied with 10 tap stands and one roll of rubber pipe—all of which now lie unused in the Village Authority Hall. Yet, the official JJM dashboard misleadingly reflects the project as “completed.”

The situation is no better in Kathikho village, where YR4C discovered zero functional household tap connections, even though records claim 100% coverage. Residents there continue to rely on traditional water sources, waiting for the day the promised taps will actually work.

Perhaps most shocking is the case of Taphou Ngaihang village, which the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Senapati, has certified as having full FHTC coverage. On the ground, however, not a single household has received proper water connections. Villagers were forced to purchase their own rubber pipes to draw water from distributor tanks—an expense that should have been covered by the project. No G.I. pipes were provided by the department, leaving residents frustrated and disillusioned.

A similar story unfolds in Taphou Pudunamei village, where each household has had to buy rubber pipes out of pocket, as no G.I. pipes were distributed by PHED. Villagers expressed deep disappointment, saying that their voices have gone unheard despite repeated complaints.

YR4C has raised serious questions about the missing G.I. pipes and discrepancies in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Jal Jeevan Mission. “This is not just negligence—it’s a betrayal of trust,” the organization stated. “We strongly condemn the blatant disregard for quality and transparency in executing a project that directly impacts the lives of rural citizens.”

The youth-led group has demanded a thorough investigation and immediate accountability from those involved in the irregularities. It also urged the authorities to take swift corrective action to ensure that clean, functional water connections finally reach the affected villages.

Launched with the goal of providing every rural household in India with functional tap water connections by 2024, the Jal Jeevan Mission has been celebrated as a flagship initiative of the government. Yet, the grim reality in Senapati district tells a different story—one where villagers are still fetching water the old way, and “completed projects” exist only in official records.

As the people of Senapati continue to wait for what was promised, YR4C has vowed to keep monitoring the situation, advocating for transparency, and holding authorities accountable. “The people deserve answers, not excuses,” the group asserted. “Access to clean water is not a privilege—it’s a basic right.”