Jal Jeevan Scheme: MPs Flag ‘Irregularities’

Syllabus: GS2/Governance 

In News

• Several MPs have called for an investigation into alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, particularly concerning inflated contracts and cost overruns.

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 

• About: It is a centrally sponsored scheme that was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, with the ambitious goal of providing tap water supply to every rural household.
  • In the Union Budget 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an increased allocation of ₹67,000 crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission, which is now extended until 2028. 
• Objectives: It aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural household, with a focus on priority areas such as drought-prone regions, quality-affected zones, deserts, and Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages.
  • It also ensures tap water access in schools, Anganwadi centers, health facilities, and community buildings, while actively monitoring the functionality of these connections. 
• Achievement: As of February 1, 2025, the Jal Jeevan Mission has provided tap water connections to 12.20 crore additional rural households, increasing total coverage to over 15.44 crore households—79.74% of India’s rural households.
  • WHO estimates JJM will save 5.5 crore hours daily, mostly for women, and could prevent 400,000 diarrheal deaths and save 14 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).
  • Nobel laureate Prof. Michael Kremer’s research suggests that safe water coverage could reduce mortality among children under five by nearly 30%, potentially saving 136,000 lives annually.
  • The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), estimates that JJM will generate 59.9 lakh person-years of direct and 2.2 crore person-years of indirect employment during its capital expenditure phase.

Challenges

• The mission faces several challenges, such as a lack of dependable water sources in certain areas, groundwater contamination, uneven geographical terrain, scattered rural habitations, and delays in obtaining statutory clearances etc. 
• Issues have been raised for long-standing water shortages and mismanagement.
• It faces scrutiny for possible financial mismanagement and lack of transparency.

Source: IE