New Delhi, July 28: The Central Government is actively considering an extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) until 2028 to ensure tap water access to every rural household in India, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday. The proposal also includes a revised funding structure and updated operational guidelines.
In a written response, Minister of State for Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, revealed that as of July 23, over 15.67 crore rural households — equivalent to 80.95% of the total 19.36 crore — have been provided with Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs).
Launched in August 2019, the mission aimed to transform rural water access, starting from a modest base of 3.23 crore households (16.7%) with piped water. Since then, an additional 12.44 crore households have been brought under the Har Ghar Jal initiative.
Somanna said the government is focused not just on expanding coverage, but also on ensuring quality infrastructure, sustainability, and citizen-centric service delivery. He noted that the extended proposal includes financial enhancements to overcome persistent challenges such as water scarcity in drought-prone regions, groundwater contamination, scattered habitations, and staffing shortages.
To address these, the government has implemented several support measures — including interest-free capital investment loans, deployment of nodal officers for better coordination, and formation of programme management units at state and district levels.
The proposed extension is expected to help the government inch closer to its ambitious target of 100% tap water coverage in rural India, ensuring safe and sustainable drinking water for every household.
