Parliament Question: Safe drinking water coverage in Tribal areas

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2625 ANSWERED ON 16/03/2026 SAFE DRINKING WATER COVERAGE IN TRIBAL AREAS 2625. SMT. MAMATA MOHANTA: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) whether all rural households in the State of Odisha, including Mayurbhanj district, have been provided functional tap water connections under Jal Jeevan Mission; (b) whether water quality monitoring and sustainability mechanisms have been strengthened in tribal regions; and (c) the steps taken to ensure long-term safe drinking water access in such districts? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA) (a) As reported by the State of Odisha on JJM-IMIS, at the start of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) on 15.08.2019, only 3.11 lakh (3.51%) rural households had tap water connections. Since then, around 65.38 additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 08.03.2026, out of 88.64 lakh rural households in the state, around 68.48 lakh (77.2%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes. Similarly, in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, as on 15.08.2019, only 22,333 (4%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. Since then, around 3.72 lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections in the district. Thus, as on 08.03.2026, out of 5.58 lakh rural households in the district, around 3.94 lakh (70.6%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes. (b) & (c) Under JJM, as per existing guidelines, Bureau of Indian Standards’ BIS:10500 standards are adopted as benchmarks for quality of water being supplied through the piped water supply schemes, including those in tribal regions of the country. To enable States/ UTs to test water samples for water quality, and for sample collection, reporting, monitoring and surveillance of drinking water sources, an online JJM–Water Quality Management Information System (WQMIS) portal has been developed. The State–wise details of water quality test reported through WQMIS are available in public domain and can be accessed at: https://ejalshakti.gov.in/WQMIS/Main/report Furthermore, as per the operational guidelines of JJM, States/ UTs can utilize up to 2% of their annual allocation of funds under JJM for Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance (WQM&S) Page 1 of 2activities, which inter-alia includes setting up and strengthening of water quality testing laboratories, procurement of equipment, instruments, chemicals, glassware, consumables, hiring of skilled manpower, surveillance by community using field test kits (FTKs), awareness generation, educational programmes on water quality, accreditation/recognition of laboratories, etc. In order to empower the communities to monitor the water quality, States/ UTs have also been advised to identify and train 5 persons, preferably women, in every village to conduct water quality testing using Field Testing Kits (FTKs)/ bacteriological vials at village level and report the same on the WQMIS portal. To ensure long term sustainability of infrastructure created under JJM, quality material and quality construction is ensured through third party inspection before making payment to contractors. Further, for enabling the local village community to play their role in planning, implementation and to shoulder the responsibility of operation and maintenance, Nal Jal Mitra Programme (NJMP) has been launched in collaboration with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to equip them with a comprehensive set of skills & develop “Nal Jal Mitras”, so that they can function as scheme operators and are able to carry out minor repairs and maintenance, including preventive maintenance, of the piped water supply scheme(s) in their village as skilled masons, plumbers, fitters, electricians, motor mechanics, pump operators, etc. Furthermore, provisions for taking up augmentation and strengthening of local drinking water sources in convergence with other schemes viz. VB-G RAM G, 15th Finance Commission grants to Rural Local Bodies (RLBs)/ Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), State schemes, MP/ MLA-LAD funds, District Mineral Development Fund, CSR funds, community contribution, etc. have also been envisaged under the JJM. ***** Page 2 of 2