This archive report was first published on 22 December 2021.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made significant strides in providing clean tap water to millions of households across the country. The ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019, aims to provide clean water to all 600,000 villages by 2024.
As of now, almost half of India's households have access to clean water taps, up from one-sixth when the program began. The mission has been successful in bringing water connections to about 100,000 households every day, with a total of over 2.5 million miles of pipes laid.
Mr. Modi's success in this mission can be attributed to his grasp of the day-to-day problems of India's poor and his penchant for ambitious solutions. He has spoken emotionally about his own mother's hardship in fetching water, which has resonated with the people.
However, the mission has its critics, including environmentalist Rajendra Singh, who argues that it has not factored in water conservation enough. He points out that India's groundwater sources are plummeting fast, with 72 percent of water aquifers being overdrawn.
Despite these challenges, the government remains committed to the mission, with additional billions of dollars earmarked for maintenance. The local fee system, which aims to build a long-term culture of ownership, has been slow to take off, with many villagers still refusing to pay.
As one villager in Panari put it, 'If ration is free, house is free, child delivery is free, wedding is free, they say the water should also be free.' The government's efforts to promote a culture of participation and ownership are crucial in the success of this mission.
