Rural India continues to face challenges in accessing piped water as the latest data shows that 3.54 crore households, accounting for 18.29 per cent of the rural population, still lack tap water supply. Kerala and Jharkhand top the list with over 44 per cent of village homes yet to receive the facility, the Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.
Minister of State for Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, provided a written reply highlighting that 45.12 per cent of rural households in Kerala and 44.82 per cent in Jharkhand remain without tap water connections. This translates to 31.93 lakh homes in Kerala and 28.03 lakh homes in Jharkhand still awaiting piped water supply.
The Minister noted that 11 States and Union Territories have achieved 100 per cent coverage under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal, launched in 2019. These include Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tripura, Nagaland, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Arunachal Pradesh, and notably, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Since the start of the mission, more than 12.58 crore additional rural households have received tap water connections. Out of the country’s estimated 19.36 crore rural households, approximately 15.82 crore (81.71 per cent) now have access, while work for the remaining 3.54 crore households continues at various stages of implementation across states.
JJM follows the Bureau of Indian Standards’ BIS:10500 benchmarks for water quality. States and UTs are allowed to allocate up to 2 per cent of their annual JJM funds for Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance. This includes establishing laboratories, procuring equipment, hiring skilled personnel, and conducting community awareness and education programs. A ‘Concise Handbook for Monitoring Water Quality of Piped Drinking Water Supply to Rural Households,’ released in December 2024, provides guidelines for testing water at sources, treatment plants, storage, and distribution points, ensuring safety and quality.
An independent assessment conducted in 2024 found that 98.1 per cent of surveyed rural households had tap connections. Among them, 87 per cent reported receiving water in the past week, while 84 per cent received water as per schedule. About 80 per cent of households received the minimum 55 litres per capita per day, 76 per cent had bacteriologically safe water, and 81 per cent reported chemical-safe sources. Overall, 76 per cent of household connections were fully functional.
While states such as Kerala and Jharkhand continue to face significant gaps, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have reported complete coverage, highlighting regional disparities in the mission’s implementation. The data underscores the ongoing need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable access to safe drinking water across rural India.
