About this Episode
More than 80 percent of India’s rural households now have tap water connections, according to government figures. When the programme began in 2019, coverage stood at less than 17 percent.
India expanded rural tap-water access through the Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019. The central government worked with state authorities to fund infrastructure and install household connections across rural communities.
Several countries have also achieved major improvements in drinking-water access. Vietnam increased reliable rural water access from 10 percent in 2000 to 70 percent in 2016, according to the World Bank. Nepal expanded access to improved water sources from 46 percent in 1990 to 95 percent, UNICEF data shows.
However, these figures measure different standards. A household tap connection does not necessarily guarantee that water is continuously available or free from contamination.
India also monitors the reliability and quality of rural water supplies. Among households with access, 85 percent received sufficient water, while 87 percent met the prescribed quality standards.
India making safe drinking water more accessible in rural areas — that’s what’s right with the world.
