Jal Jeevan Mission Boosts Women Empowerment in Rural India, Says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the significant role of the Jal Jeevan Mission in empowering women, particularly in rural India. The mission, launched in August 2019, aims to provide functional tap water connections to every rural household, improving access to clean water and enhancing the lives of millions.
In a recent post on X, PM Modi emphasized that the initiative is allowing women to focus on skill development and self-reliance, as they no longer need to travel long distances to fetch clean water. With water now available at their doorsteps, women have more time to engage in productive activities, contributing to their empowerment.
“Jal Jeevan Mission is a great example of how we are empowering women, especially in rural areas. With clean water at their doorstep, women can now focus on skill development and self-reliance,” PM Modi said.
Since its inception, the mission has seen remarkable progress. In 2019, only 3.23 crore (17%) rural households had tap water connections. By October 2024, this number had surged to 15.35 crore (79.31%), with an additional 11.96 crore connections added.
As per government data, 11 states—Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Haryana, Puducherry, Telangana, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram—have achieved 100% tap water coverage.
A recent report by the State Bank of India highlighted the positive impact of the Jal Jeevan Mission, noting an 8.3 percentage point decline in rural households fetching water from outside their premises. This improvement has led to a 7.4 percentage point increase in women’s participation in agriculture and other productive sectors.
States like Bihar and Assam have shown exceptional progress, with the female workforce in these regions rising by over 28 percentage points, showcasing the transformative effect of the Jal Jeevan Mission on women’s empowerment in rural India.
