Jal Jeevan Mission in Meghalaya is facing challenges related to land and water sources.
Meghalaya: The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is facing significant challenges in Meghalaya, where the hilly terrain and lack of natural water sources in many villages are making it difficult to fulfill the program’s promise of providing tap water to every household.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar, raised the issue at a review meeting and called for specific steps to address the gaps that remain despite government claims of nearly universal coverage.
Dr. Kumar said he personally visited four households to see how tap water connections are being provided on the ground, and stressed that a standard approach will not work for every village in the state.
“We need a specific scheme for villages in Meghalaya that lack water sources. We must ensure that water reaches every household,” he said, emphasizing the need for solutions tailored to the realities of remote and difficult areas. In Meghalaya, the JJM has achieved over 83% coverage, and rural households, schools, and Anganwadi centers across the state have been provided with functional tap connections.
However, the Minister’s comments suggest that many areas still lack water connections, highlighting shortcomings in both planning and resource availability under the national program.
The “Har Ghar Nal, Nal Se Jal” mission aims to provide clean drinking water through piped connections to every household in India, but Meghalaya’s geographical location still poses obstacles that require more than traditional initiatives.
