Community participation by panchayat leaders, frontline workers, volunteers and technical staff is playing a crucial role in sustaining rural drinking water systems under the Jal Jeevan Mission, according to the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Launched in August 2019, the mission aims to provide every rural household with safe and adequate drinking water through a Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC). At the start of the programme, only 3.23 crore rural households had tap water connections. As of March 3, 2026, the number has risen to over 15.82 crore households, reflecting significant progress toward universal rural drinking water coverage.
The Ministry said the Union Budget for 2026–27 has proposed an allocation of ₹67,670 crore for the mission, which has also been extended until 2028. Beyond pipelines, pumps and storage facilities, the success of rural water supply systems depends heavily on local participation and community-led management.
Grassroots leadership in villages
Across India, local leaders and community members are playing an important role in managing water supply infrastructure.
In Mankuwar Gram Panchayat in Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh, the Mau Rural Drinking Water Supply Scheme has ensured tap water connections for all 340 households, benefiting nearly 1,971 residents.
Under the leadership of Gram Pradhan Rachna Devi, the village has established a system of monthly user charges to sustain operations. Households contribute ₹50 per month, generating about ₹5,275 monthly to meet operational costs.
Regular meetings of the Village Water and Sanitation Committee review billing, revenue collection and service delivery, helping maintain transparency in water management.
Ensuring water supply in Ladakh
In the high-altitude village of Matho in Leh district of Ladakh, maintaining water infrastructure requires continuous technical support.
Public Health Engineering lineman Tsering Dorjey has played a key role in installing and maintaining drinking water systems under the Jal Jeevan Mission despite harsh weather and difficult terrain. Officials said the coordinated efforts of field staff and local communities have helped ensure reliable water supply in the region.
Women leading water quality monitoring
In Manekpor village in Navsari district of Gujarat, community-led water quality monitoring is being carried out by members of the Village Water Quality Team.
Falguniben Sanjaybhai Rathod regularly tests drinking water samples using field test kits to ensure the safety of water supplied to households. Over the past three months, she has tested 19 water samples across different habitations.
In addition to testing, she conducts awareness activities on safe water practices, including home chlorination and sanitation measures.
Women-led water governance in Sikkim
Community leadership has also helped strengthen water governance in Sikkim, where women sarpanches have mobilised villagers to manage local water supply systems.
In Rumbuk GPU under the Daramdin block, Sarpanch Shela Subba has promoted public participation through regular meetings and awareness campaigns. As a result, all households, schools and anganwadi centres in the village now have tap water connections.
Similarly, in Upper Thambong GPU, Sarpanch Puspa Cintury has focused on strengthening the financial sustainability of water supply systems by encouraging regular user fee contributions for maintenance and repairs.
Expanding coverage in Jharkhand
In Kanchanpur Gram Panchayat in Jharkhand, Mukhiya Pinki Rana led efforts to achieve 100 percent tap water coverage across multiple villages.
The expansion reached 670 households in Kanchanpur village, 384 households in Hethlag, and 357 households in Govindpur, earning the Panchayat recognition as a Har Ghar Jal Panchayat.
Community participation key to sustainability
The Ministry said examples from states and regions including Ladakh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim demonstrate how rural drinking water systems rely not only on infrastructure but also on community involvement.
Through the participation of gram panchayats, women’s groups, trained volunteers and technical staff, villages are able to manage water supply systems, monitor quality and ensure continuous service to households.
The Ministry said such collective efforts will remain central to sustaining rural drinking water services as the Jal Jeevan Mission moves forward.
