More than 80 percent of rural households in Scheduled Caste-dominated areas have received tap water connections under India’s flagship Jal Jeevan Mission, the government said on Monday, highlighting progress in its efforts to improve drinking water access.

Since August 2019, the Indian government has been implementing JJM in collaboration with states. The initiative replaces the earlier National Rural Drinking Water Programme and aims to provide functional tap water connections at 55 liters per capita per day to all rural households, including those in SC communities.

According to a written response in Parliament by Minister of State for Jal Shakti V. Somanna, out of 21.57 million rural households in SC-dominated areas, over 17.28 million — or 80.12 percent — have received tap water connections as of March 17, 2025.

The government allocates 10 percent weightage for SC and scheduled tribe populations when distributing JJM funds and has advised states and union territories to prioritize SC- and ST-dominated villages, the minister said.

State Disparities in Coverage

The data reveals significant variation among states. Some, including Gujarat, Punjab, Telangana and Haryana, have achieved 100 percent tap water coverage for SC households, while others lag behind. West Bengal reported the lowest coverage rate at 59.87 percent, followed by Jharkhand at 56.56 percent and Kerala at 51.06 percent.

Bihar, with 97.57 percent coverage, and Tamil Nadu, with 89.81 percent, were among the better-performing states. Uttar Pradesh, which has the highest number of SC households, reported an 87.6 percent coverage rate.

Funding for SC Communities

The government mandates that 22 percent of JJM’s annual budget be allocated under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan. Over the past five years, SCSP funding has risen from ₹22 billion ($264 million) in 2019-20 to 154 billion rupees in 2023-24. So far, in 2024-25, ₹49.67 billion have been drawn under the SCSP.

While water remains a state subject, the central government has urged states to ensure the quality, quantity and regularity of supplied tap water. The minister said no reports of disparities in SC household coverage across states have been received.

The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to achieve universal rural tap water coverage by 2024, a key goal for the government ahead of the general elections expected next year.

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