Centre Sets Conditions for States to Receive Jal Jeevan Mission Funds

The Union Government has laid down specific conditions for states and Union Territories to receive funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). States will have to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre and meet certain operational benchmarks before central funds are released.

The move aims to improve accountability, transparency, and performance in implementing the rural drinking water scheme.

Key Conditions Imposed by the Centre

According to officials, states must fulfil several requirements, including:

Signing an MoU with the Central Government committing to the scheme’s targets.

Ensuring regular and sustainable water supply systems in villages.

Maintaining functional tap connections and infrastructure under the mission.

Strengthening monitoring, reporting, and digital tracking of projects.

Only after these conditions are met will the next instalments of central funds be released to states.

Objective of the Move

The conditions have been introduced to ensure that public funds are utilised efficiently and that water supply infrastructure remains functional after installation. The Centre aims to shift the focus from simply creating infrastructure to ensuring reliable water service delivery in rural areas.

About Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

Launched in 2019 by the Government of India.

Implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Objective: Provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to every rural household.

Target supply: 55 litres of water per person per day.

“Har Ghar Jal” Initiative

Jal Jeevan Mission is popularly known as the Har Ghar Jal programme.

It aims to ensure safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections in rural India.

Funding Pattern

Cost-sharing between Centre and states:

90:10 – Northeastern and Himalayan states

50:50 – Other states

100% central funding – Union Territories.

Progress of the Scheme

When JJM was launched in 2019, only about 18% of rural households had piped water connections, which the mission aims to significantly expand.

Recent Policy Development

The Union Cabinet recently extended Jal Jeevan Mission till 2028 with a multi-lakh-crore outlay, focusing more on sustainability and service delivery rather than only building infrastructure.