Analysing the Spatio-Temporal Dynamics in Functional Household Tap Connections Under Jal Jeevan Mission in Rural Communities Across India

By : Anant Gautam , Sabir Hossain Molla , Sanjay Kumar , Ravi Shekhar , Rahul Kumar

Page No: 13-33

Abstract
Ensuring equitable access to safe drinking water in rural India remains a major development challenge, despite its status as a basic human right and its centrality to SDG 6. The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched in 2019, seeks to bridge this gap by providing Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural household by 2024. This study analyses the spatio-temporal evolution of FHTCs coverage from 2019 to 2025 across rural India, with a focused comparative assessment of Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim—two states that exemplify contrasting geographic and administrative contexts. A quantitative approach was employed using data from the JJM dashboard, with descriptive statistics using SPSS, while ArcGIS 10.5 was used to generate choropleth maps and bar graphs illustrating regional disparities over time. Nationally, FHTC coverage expanded significantly from 16.99% in 2019 to 80.38% in 2025. Sikkim achieved near-universal coverage (>90%) in all districts by 2025 due to centralised planning and terrain-specific interventions. Uttar Pradesh, despite rising from 1.97% to 89.02%, exhibited pronounced intra-state disparities, with some districts still below 35%. These findings highlight that while JJM has made significant strides nationally, terrain-sensitive infrastructure planning, institutional capacity, and local community engagement would further help to achieve sustainable rural water access.

Authors:
Anant Gautam, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Sikkim University, Gangtok, Sikkim,
Sabir Hossain Molla, Research Assistant, Department of Geography, Sikkim University, Gangtok, Sikkim,
Sanjay Kumar, Assistant Professor, MMV, BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 
Ravi Shekhar, Professor, CSRD, JNU, New Delhi,
Rahul Kumar, Assistant Professor, Government Degree College, Agrora, Uttarakhand,
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/ATNAGI.2026.46.01.2