Since August 2019, the Government of India has been implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal in partnership with States and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, to provide every rural household with a functional tap water connection. As water is a State subject, the responsibility for planning, implementing and maintaining drinking water schemes lies with State Governments, while the Centre offers technical and financial support.

At the launch of JJM in 2019, only 3.23 crore rural households nationwide—around 16.7 per cent—had tap water connections. As of 26 November 2025, States and UTs report that more than 12.51 crore additional rural households have been connected. This means that of India’s 19.36 crore rural households, over 15.74 crore—around 81.33 per cent—now have tap water supply.

In Tamil Nadu, progress has been significant. On 15 August 2019, only 21.76 lakh rural households (approximately 2.176 million, or 17.37 per cent) had tap water access. Since then, an additional 90.16 lakh rural households (about 9.016 million) have been connected. As of 26 November 2025, out of 125.26 lakh rural households (12.526 million), around 111.93 lakh (11.193 million), or 89.36 per cent, now have tap water supply.

Financial Progress: 2022–23:

Opening balance: Rs 5.343 billion

Allocation: Rs 40.15 billion

Fund drawn: Rs 8.729 billion

Available fund: Rs 14.072 billion

Reported utilisation: Rs 5.937 billion

Expenditure under State share: Rs 6.643 billion

2023–24:

Opening balance: Rs 8.135 billion

Allocation: Rs 36.156 billion

Fund drawn: Rs 26.171 billion

Available fund: Rs 34.306 billion

Reported utilisation: Rs 26.174 billion

Expenditure under State share: Rs 26.123 billion

2024–25:

Opening balance: Rs 8.131 billion

Allocation: Rs 24.389 billion

Fund drawn: Rs 7.317 billion

Available fund: Rs 15.448 billion

Reported utilisation: Rs 13.332 billion

Expenditure under State share: Rs 33.434 billion

According to the Tamil Nadu Government, several structural challenges affect implementation, including the absence of perennial rivers, dominant hard-rock geology with poor groundwater potential, and the fact that 57 per cent of blocks fall under over-exploited, critical or semi-critical categories, with a further 3 per cent in saline zones. The COVID-19 pandemic also slowed progress.

To accelerate coverage, the Centre has held regular high-level reviews with the State, sent multidisciplinary field teams, and met with all District Collectors to prioritise connections in areas such as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) habitations, Aspirational Districts and drought-prone regions.

Under JJM guidelines, States have been advised to develop or augment water sources, strengthen bulk water transfer systems, build treatment and distribution infrastructure, and undertake groundwater recharge through dedicated recharge structures, rainwater harvesting and water-body rejuvenation, in convergence with schemes such as MGNREGS, IWMP, 15th Finance Commission grants and CSR funding.

A major community-centred effort, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, was launched on 6 September 2024 under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign, promoting low-cost artificial recharge structures and active participation of local communities, industries and other stakeholders in water conservation.

The information was provided by the Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.