Parliament Question: Functional household tap connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 268 ANSWERED ON 02/02/2026 FUNCTIONAL HOUSEHOLD TAP CONNECTIONS UNDER THE JAL JEEVAN MISSION 268. SMT. SUMITRA BALMIK: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) the number of rural households in the State of Madhya Pradesh that have been provided with Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) under the Jal Jeevan Mission to date; (b) whether Government has conducted any study to assess the reduction in drudgery and improvement in 'Ease of Living' for rural women due to the availability of tap water in their homes; and (c) the details of Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) formed in the State of Madhya Pradesh and the percentage of women participation in these committees to ensure community-led water management? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA) (a) to (c) Government of India in partnership with states, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household, including those in the state of Madhya Pradesh. At the start the Mission, only 13.53 lakh (12.15%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections in Madhya Pradesh. So far, as reported by State as on 28.01.2026, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal, around 68.17 lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 28.01.2026, out of 1.11 crore rural households in the State, around 81.72 lakh (73.38%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes. With assured tap water supply, JJM is playing a significant role in bringing 'ease of living' for rural community, especially women. Impacts of JJM have been assessed by reputed national and international institutions/ individuals. SBI Research reported that JJM has freed 9 crore women from fetching water, enabling greater participation in other economic activities; WHO estimated saving of 5.5 crore hours daily, prevention of 400,000 diarrheal deaths, and savings of 14 million DALYs; Nobel laureate Prof. Michael Kremer found a 30% reduction in under-five mortality, saving 1,36,000 lives annually; IIM Bangalore & ILO estimated generation of 59.9 lakh direct and 2.2 crore indirect person-years of employment, strengthening rural livelihoods through JJM. Page 1 of 2The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that achieving saturation under JJM will result in savings of more than 5.5 crore hours of time every day, which is otherwise spent in collection of water for household needs, primarily for women. Since its launch, Jal Jeevan Mission is being implemented as a decentralized, demand- driven and community-managed programme, wherein the Gram Panchayat and/ or its sub-committee/ user group i.e. Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/ Pani Samiti, having at least 50% women members and suitable representation to marginalized sections of society in the villages, have been empowered to plan, implement, manage, operate and maintain in- village water supply system to provide regular and assured tap water supply in rural households. As reported, more than 47 thousand VWSCs/ Pani Samitis have been constituted as per JJM guidelines in the State of Madhya Pradesh thereby promoting inclusive and participatory decision making at the village level. Further, five persons, preferably women are identified and trained from every village for testing the water samples through Field Test Kits (FTKs) and so far, more than 24.80 lakh women, including 2.61 lakh women in the State of Madhya Pradesh, have been trained. ***** Page 2 of 2