Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission till December 2028 with a significantly enhanced financial outlay and a restructured implementation strategy focused on long-term service delivery in rural drinking water supply.
The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a proposal of the Ministry of Jal Shakti to transform the programme from a primarily infrastructure-driven initiative to a citizen-centric utility model ensuring sustainable piped potable water supply in rural areas.
Under the revised framework, the total outlay for the mission has been increased to Rs 8.69 lakh crore, with Central assistance of Rs 3.59 lakh crore, up from Rs 2.08 lakh crore approved during the mission’s launch in 2019–20. The increase represents an additional central share of Rs 1.51 lakh crore.
As part of structural reforms, the Government will introduce a national digital framework called “Sujalam Bharat”, which will assign each village a unique Sujal Gaon or Service Area ID. The system will digitally map the entire drinking water supply chain—from source to household tap—to improve monitoring, transparency and accountability.
The programme will also strengthen community participation through initiatives such as “Jal Arpan”, under which Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) will formally participate in the commissioning and handover of water supply schemes. A Gram Panchayat will be able to declare itself “Har Ghar Jal” only after certifying that adequate operation and maintenance arrangements are in place. To encourage community ownership of water systems, the mission will introduce “Jal Utsav”, an annual communityled event focused on reviewing and maintaining local water supply infrastructure while promoting collective responsibility for water sustainability.
