SENAPATI, NOV 21: Youth Rise for Change (YR4C) has uncovered what it describes as extensive manipulation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) implementation data in Maram Khullen and Khongnem villages, following a fact-finding visit to assess the status of household tap connections and associated NDB-financed water supply works.
The team visited Maram Khullen—covering Maram Mathak, Maram Makha and Maram Khunlakpa—and later Khongnem Village, where they were formally received by Village Chief Sagong Namba, village authorities, elders and youth leaders. The visit aimed to verify on-ground progress of the JJM and the New Development Bank (NDB) project meant to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to rural households.
During interactions, R. K. Paul Chawang briefed villagers on the sanctioned project amounts and the official data uploaded on the JJM Dashboard (ejalshakti.gov.in). He highlighted alarming discrepancies, including manipulated and falsified data showing near-completed FHTC coverage in villages where not a single new tap-connection work has begun on the ground.
In Maram Khunlakpa, the JJM Dashboard shows that out of 556 households, 472 households have already received FHTC and only 84 remain. Financial records reflect sanctions of ₹73.88 lakh in 2019–20 and ₹53.13 lakh in 2023–24, the latter shown as fully utilized. However, the village authorities confirmed that no works under the NDB-financed project have commenced and only one school tap connection exists from earlier years.
Similarly, in Maram Makha Sagai, online data claims that 349 out of 414 households have been provided with tap connections, and that sanctioned funds of ₹61.75 lakh in 2019–20 and ₹53.13 lakh in 2023–24 were accounted as spent. Yet, the villagers unanimously stated that no new FHTC works have been carried out in the locality.
The findings were equally concerning in Khongnem Village, where JJM data shows 48 out of 54 households as having tap connections, along with tap coverage for a school and four Anganwadi centres. Financial data records a sanction of ₹95.77 lakh in 2019–20 and ₹53.13 lakh in 2023–24, also shown as fully utilized. Village authorities, however, confirmed that not a single work under the NDB scheme has been executed in their village.
Expressing serious concern, the Village Chief of Maram Khullen and elders condemned the uploading of “fabricated development data” and thanked YR4C for exposing the gap between sanctioned funds and ground reality. Villagers also recounted that the implementing contractor earlier stated work would begin by September 2025, yet no visible progress has occurred.
During extensive discussions, YR4C urged villagers to stay vigilant about their rights and stand united against corruption that deprives rural populations of basic amenities. The team reaffirmed its commitment to fighting corruption and assisting rural communities in ensuring transparency and accountability.
YR4C also appealed to youth across villages to join the movement and requested village authorities to issue written endorsements supporting efforts to safeguard both present and future community welfare.
