- The struggle of fetching water from distant Billamgarh has ended; Jal Jeevan Mission has made life easier for this rural family
The transformation in the life of Bhuliya Bai—a resident of the remote forest village of Karangra in Gaurela Development Block—brought about by the Jal Jeevan Mission highlights the significance of the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ (Water in Every Home) pledge in rural areas.
Until recently, arranging drinking water was a major daily challenge for Bhuliya Bai’s family. To fetch water, they had to travel over rugged terrain to Billamgarh, a place far from the village. Fetching water consumed both time and effort. Balancing household responsibilities with the task of fetching water from such a distance caused her significant distress and physical exhaustion.
The installation of a tap connection in her home under the Jal Jeevan Mission has brought a major change to the family’s daily routine. They no longer need to travel far for water; clean drinking water is available right at their doorstep the moment the tap is turned on. This has saved the family time and labor, making their daily lives much more convenient than before.
Bhuliya Bai says, “Earlier, we had to go far to fetch water, but now we get water from the tap right at home. This saves both time and effort.”
- Jal Jeevan Mission: An initiative linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Har Ghar Jal’ pledge
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Jal Jeevan Mission on August 15, 2019. The mission aims to provide rural households with adequate quantities of drinking water of prescribed quality through household tap connections on a regular and long-term basis. The scheme is implemented through a partnership between the Central and State governments, with the Centre providing technical and financial assistance to the states.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has linked the Jal Jeevan Mission to making life easier for rural families and, in particular, relieving women of the arduous task of fetching water from distant sources. According to the Central Government, at the inception of the mission in August 2019, only 3.23 crore rural households in the country had tap water connections. By January 28, 2026, this figure had risen to over 15.79 crore rural households.
- Enhanced Ease of Living through Savings in Women’s Time and Effort
Bhuliya Bai’s story illustrates that the impact of having tap water reach the home extends far beyond mere water availability. Saving the time and effort previously spent fetching water from afar allows more time for the family’s daily activities. The easy access to clean drinking water has also fostered a greater sense of convenience and dignity in the family’s life.
The nationwide effort to provide tap drinking water to rural households under the Jal Jeevan Mission marks a significant step towards strengthening basic amenities in rural life. Under this mission, tap water supply has reached over 15.91 crore rural households across the country.
- A Story of Transformation Revealed through the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’
Bhuliya Bai’s story, which came to light during the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ (Service Pledge Campaign), exemplifies how the benefits of public welfare schemes directly impact the daily lives of rural families. Where she once had to travel long distances for water, she now has access to tap water right at her doorstep.
For Bhuliya Bai, the arrival of tap water at home is not merely a convenience; it represents relief from daily hardships and a transformation that makes life much easier. This facility, reaching villages through the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ (Tap Water in Every Home) pledge, is saving time and effort for rural families—particularly for women.