The government has released a Rs 1,605 grant for eight north-eastern states as a part of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to provide tap water supply to rural homes in FY22. This is the first phase of the four to be released in FY22. Out of the central fund allocated under JJM, 93% of the fund is to be utilised on developing water supply infrastructure, 5% on support activities and 2% on water quality monitoring and surveillance activities. The government releases the central funds based on the output in terms of tap water connections to be provided in the states/UTs and the utilisation of available central and matching state share. States have to transfer the central fund released along with matching state shares to the single nodal account within 15-days of the release of the central fund. The states have to make provision for matching state share and ensure there is no shortage of funds to the implementing agencies. A proper expenditure plan has to be prepared so that expenditure is evenly spread throughout the year. There are around 90 lakh rural households in all the north-eastern states, with a maximum of 63.35 lakh households in Assam. In 2020-21, around 11 lakh new tap water connections will be provided in all these states. Currently, 16.27 lakh households in the region have tap water supply in these states compared to 3.2 lakh households on 15 August 2019. The budgetary allocation for JJM increased to Rs 50,011 crore in 2021-22. In addition to this, the 15th Finance Commission tied grants of Rs 26,940 crore will also be available to PRIs for water and sanitation services. The fund is also available through matching state shares and externally aided projects. In 2021-22, over Rs 1 lakh crore has been planned to be invested in India to ensure tap water supply to rural homes. Image SourceAlso read: Jal Jeevan Mission: Govt releases central grant for 15 states Also read: Jal Jeevan Mission urges states, UTs to digitise water supply infra