In a major stride towards improving rural infrastructure and public health, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is steadily transforming life in remote villages of Manipur by delivering safe drinking water directly to homes. The initiative, which aims to provide every rural household with a functional tap connection, is offering a new lease on life in areas long plagued by water scarcity and conflict-related disruption. Launched in 2019 by the Government of India, the Jal Jeevan Mission is being implemented in collaboration with the states. In Manipur, the scheme is overseen by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), which is tasked with planning, designing, and executing water supply projects at the grassroots level.
A recent ground report from villages like K. Thenjang, Maichammun, and Leinom in the hill districts paints a picture of change. Families can now access water for drinking, cooking, washing, and sanitation within the safety of their homes—a dramatic shift from the days when women and children trekked long distances with pots to fetch water. Assistant Engineer Paulungmuan of the PHED revealed that under JJM, a total of 430 water supply schemes have been sanctioned in Manipur. Of these, 26 have been fully completed and are operational, while 108 schemes are yet to achieve full functionality in terms of household tap coverage.
In addition to central funding, Manipur is also benefiting from financial assistance from the New Development Bank (NDB), a multilateral financial institution. “There are 51 water supply schemes supported by the NDB—50 for individual villages and one multi-village scheme,” the engineer noted. However, the progress had hit a roadblock in the wake of the ethnic conflict that erupted on May 3, 2023. The violence, which disrupted public services and infrastructure work, forced a temporary halt in project implementation. Now, with a relative restoration of peace in several regions, both JJM and NDB-backed projects have resumed work.
