The Central government said the number of arsenic and fluoride affected habitats were reduced significantly in the last five years and as many as 2,163 drinking water quality testing laboratories were set up in States. Over 24.61 lakh women trained for testing water using field testing kits across India, according to Union Minister of State for Jal shakti V Somanna in Rajya Sabha.
The Central government, in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) since August, 2019 to provide potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular and long-term basis to every rural household in the country. Drinking water being a State subject, the responsibility of planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the Jal Jeevan Mission, lies with State and Union Territories (UT) governments. The Centre supports the States by providing technical and financial assistance.
At the time of announcement of JJM, 3.23 crore amounting to 17 per cent rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States and UTs as on July 31, 2024, around 11.
80 crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on July 31, 2024, out of 19.32 crore rural households, in 5.
83 lakh villages, in the country, more than 15.03 crore amounting 77.81 per cent households spread in around 5.
80 lakh villages, are reported to have tap.