## Policy Summary: Addressing Fluoride Contamination in Drinking Water under the Jal Jeevan Mission
This document summarizes the Indian government's efforts, under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), to provide safe drinking water to rural households, with a specific focus on addressing fluoride contamination. Launched in August 2019, the JJM aims to provide potable tap water in adequate quantity and prescribed quality on a regular, long-term basis. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS:10500) is used as the benchmark for water quality.
**Key Initiatives and Progress:**
* **Priority to Affected Habitations:** The JJM prioritizes providing tap water supply to habitations affected by chemical contaminants, including fluoride. States/UTs are advised to plan and implement piped water supply schemes based on alternative safe water sources for villages with water quality issues.
* **Reduction in Affected Habitations:** Since the launch of JJM, the number of fluoride-affected habitations has decreased. As of July 23, 2025, 248 fluoride-affected rural habitations were reported where piped water supply schemes compliant with JJM standards are yet to be commissioned. This is a significant reduction from 7,996 habitations reported as of April 1, 2019.
* **Interim Solutions:** Until piped water supply schemes are commissioned, all 248 habitations are provided with safe drinking water (8-10 liters per person per day) through Community Water Purification Plants (CWPPs) and Individual Household Purifiers (IHPs).
* **CWPP/IHP Installation:** As of July 23, 2025, all fluoride-affected habitations in Odisha (14), Punjab (119), Rajasthan (78) and West Bengal (37) are covered with CWPPs/IHPs.
* **Financial Allocation:** Funds under JJM are not released separately for specific contamination-affected habitations. Since 2019-20, substantial central funds have been allocated, released, and utilized for providing safe and potable water through taps, including in fluoride-affected areas.
**Financial Data (in Rs. Crore):**
| Year | Central Share Opening Balance | Allocated | Released | Expenditure | State Share Expenditure |
| :---------- | :---------------------------- | :---------- | :---------- | :---------- | :------------------------ |
| 2019-20 | 2,436.37 | 11,139.21 | 9,951.81 | 5,983.49 | 4090.79 |
| 2020-21 | 6,447.36 | 23,033.02 | 10,917.86 | 12,544.51 | 7,905.45 |
| 2021-22 | 4,825.92 | 92,308.77 | 40,009.77 | 25,326.67 | 18,226.18 |
| 2022-23 | 19,510.05 | 1,00,789.77 | 54,742.30 | 50,667.81 | 40,147.74 |
| 2023-24 | 23,584.58 | 1,32,936.83 | 69,885.01 | 82,295.58 | 69,219.37 |
| 2024-25 | 11,173.97 | 69,926.68 | 22,540.22 | 29,838.41 | 60,167.78 |
| 2025-26 | 3,875.74 | 7.59 | | 3,063.52 | |
**National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis (NPPCF):**
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, implements the NPPCF to address fluorosis, a disease caused by excessive fluoride intake. As of June 2025, NPPCF is active in 163 districts across 19 States/UTs, providing support for:
* Manpower strengthening in endemic districts.
* Procurement of lab equipment (including ion meters).
* Training of medical and paramedical staff.
* Health education and publicity.
* Vitamin and mineral supplementation, treatment, and rehabilitation.
**Source:** JJMIMIS Release ID: 2149210. Information provided by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri V. Somanna, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on July 28, 2025. MAMSMP Rajya Sabha US Q896
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission: A program (JJM Har Ghar Jal) launched in August 2019 to provide potable tap water to rural households.
Bureau of Indian Standards: An Indian standards organisation whose BIS:10500 standards are adopted as benchmark for water quality under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Odisha: A state in India, one of the states with fluoride affected habitations.
Punjab: A state in India, one of the states with fluoride affected habitations.
Rajasthan: A state in India, one of the states with fluoride affected habitations.
West Bengal: A state in India, one of the states with fluoride affected habitations.
Directorate General of Health Services: An Indian organisation (DGHS), part of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis: A Government of India program (NPPCF) implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to tackle Fluorosis.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
FLUORIDE IN DRINKING WATER
Posted On: 28 JUL 2025 1:48PM by PIB Delhi
The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal, was launched in August, 2019, in partnership with States/ UTs
to make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular &
long-term basis to rural households. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, as per existing guidelines, Bureau of
Indian Standards’ BIS:10500 standards are adopted as benchmark for quality of water being supplied through
the piped water supply schemes. Drinking Water being a State subject, the responsibility of Planning,
Approval, Implementation, Operation & Maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those
under the Jal Jeevan Mission, is vested with State/UT Governments. The Government of India supports the
States by providing technical and financial assistance.
Under JJM, while planning water supply schemes to provide tap water supply to households, priority is given
to habitations affected by chemical contaminants including Fluoride. States/ UTs have been advised to plan
and implement piped water supply schemes based on alternative safe water sources for the villages reported
with water quality issues. Since launch of Jal Jeevan Mission, the number of Fluoride affected habitations has
reduced over the years. The year-wise details of fluoride affected habitations reported by the States/UTs is as
follows:
No. of Fluoride affected habitations as on
01.04.20 01.04.20 01.04.20 01.04.20 01.04.20 01.04.20 01.04.20 23.07.20
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 25
7,996 5,796 1,021 638 393 348 250 248
Source: JJM-IMIS
Under JJM, States/ UTs have also been advised to install community water purification plants
(CWPPs) especially in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations to provide potable water to every
household to meet their drinking and cooking requirements till the commissioning of piped water
supply schemes compliant to JJM standards. As reported by States/ UTs on JJM-IMIS as on date,
there are 248 Fluoride affected rural habitations in the country where the piped water supply
schemes compliant to JJM standards are yet to be commissioned. However, all these 248
habitations have been provided with safe drinking water for drinking and cooking purpose to the
tune of 8-10 litres per person per day through Community water purification plants/ Individual
Household Purifiers (CWPPs/ IHPs). Thus, all habitations in rural area of the country are provided
safe drinking water free from Fluoride contamination. State-wise details of Fluoride affected
habitations and CWPP/IHP installed in such habitations are at below.
Under JJM the funds are not released separately for specific contamination affected habitations in
drinking water such as those by Fluoride. The State/ UT-wise details of funds allocated, released,
and utilized under JJM for provision of safe and potable water through taps to households including
those affected by Fluoride since 2019-20 are at below.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has
informed that the Government of India is implementing the National Programme for Prevention and
Control of Fluorosis (NPPCF) to tackle the issue of Fluorosis, which is a disease caused by theingestion of food and water containing excessive levels of Fluoride. As on June, 2025, NPPCF is
being implemented in 163 districts across 19 States/UT and is being expanded in a phased manner.
Through the NPPCF Programme, support is being provided at the District level for:
Strengthening manpower in endemic districts by providing for Consultant, Laboratory Technician
(cid:108)
and Field Investigator;
Purchase of equipment for the lab including an Ion meter for water and urinary analysis of fluoride
(cid:108)
levels;
Training of medical and paramedical workers at various levels;
(cid:108)
Health Education and Publicity; and
(cid:108)
Supplementation with vitamins and minerals and treatment including reconstructive surgery and
(cid:108)
rehabilitation.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V.
SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
****
MAM/SMP
(Rajya Sabha US Q896)
State-wise number of Fluoride affected habitations and CWPP/IHP installed
(as on 23.07.2025)
S. Number of Fluoride Covered with CWPP
State
No. affected habitations
1. Odisha 14 14
2. Punjab 119 119
3. Rajasthan 78 78
4. West Bengal 37 37
Total 248 248
Source: JJM-IMIS
Jal Jeevan Mission: Central fund allocated, drawn and reported utilization since 2019-20
(as on date 23.07.2025)
(Amount in Rs. Crore)
Central Share
Financial State Share
Opening Allocated Released
Year Expenditure Expenditure
Balance Funds Amount
2019-20 2,436.37 11,139.21 9,951.81 5,983.49 4090.79
2020-21 6,447.36 23,033.02 10,917.86 12,544.51 7,905.45
2021-22 4,825.92 92,308.77 40,009.77 25,326.67 18,226.18
2022-23 19,510.05 1,00,789.77 54,742.30 50,667.81 40,147.742023-24 23,584.58 1,32,936.83 69,885.01 82,295.58 69,219.37
2024-25 11,173.97 69,926.68 22,540.22 29,838.41 60,167.78
2025-26 3,875.74 - - 7.59 3,063.52
Source: JJM-IMIS
(Release ID: 2149210)