Lok Sabha Question No. 195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-20
Subject: Water connection to SC Hamlets
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: D. Ravikumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 195 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20/07/2023

## Water connection to SC Hamlets

## 195. SHRI RAVIKUMAR D.:

## Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Government is aware that the caste discrimination is being practiced while giving water connections to SC hamlets in the rural areas of many States;
- (b)  if so, the measures taken/being taken by the Government to check caste bias in providing the connection; and
- (c)   the number of water connections provided to SC hamlets, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (c) To enable every rural household in the country, including those in Scheduled Caste (SC) hamlets, to have assured potable water at service level of 55 litres per capita per day through tap water connection, since Aug., 2019, Government of India is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal in partnership with States. As on 17.07.2023, out of 19.46 Crore rural households in the country, around 12.58 Crore (58.77%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

JJM follows a universal  approach  for  coverage  of  rural  households.  Further,  while  allocating  the fund under JJM, 10% weightage is assigned for rural SC/ ST population, so as to prioritize their coverage. Also, States/ UTs have been advised to prioritize the coverage of SC/ST concentrated/dominated villages. Details of Scheduled Castes (SCs) households provided with tap water connection is not maintained at Government of India level. State/ UT-wise details of tap water connections in SCs concentrated/dominated habitations, as reported by states/UT as on 17.07.2023, are annexed.

Water being a State subject, under JJM the powers to plan, approve, implement, operate & maintain water supply schemes are vested with States. Accordingly, grievances/ complaints etc. are disposed in respective State/UT.

*****

## State/ UT-wise status of tap water connections in rural households in SC concentrated/dominated habitations

(as on 17.07.2023)

(Numbers in thousand)

| S. No.   | State/ UT         | Total rural HHs in SC concentrated/ dominated habitations as on date   | HHs with tap water connections   |   %of HHs with tap water connections |
|----------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| 1.       | Andhra Pradesh    | 10,78.36                                                               | 8,34.19                          |                                77.36 |
| 2.       | Arunachal Pradesh | 0.54                                                                   | 0.19                             |                                35.38 |
| 3.       | Assam             | 3,70.65                                                                | 1,92.96                          |                                52.06 |
| 4.       | Bihar             | 10,43.21                                                               | 10,17.52                         |                                97.54 |
| 5.       | Chhattisgarh      | 4,20.41                                                                | 2,17.00                          |                                51.62 |
| 6.       | Gujarat           | 68.16                                                                  | 68.16                            |                               100    |
| 7.       | Haryana           | 2,71.42                                                                | 2,71.42                          |                               100    |
| 8.       | Himachal Pradesh  | 3,98.94                                                                | 3,98.94                          |                               100    |
| 9.       | J&K               | 1,34.03                                                                | 71.46                            |                                53.31 |
| 10.      | Jharkhand         | 4,99.44                                                                | 1,79.43                          |                                35.93 |
| 11.      | Karnataka         | 10,98.03                                                               | 6,59.78                          |                                60.09 |
| 12.      | Kerala            | 75.67                                                                  | 35.43                            |                                46.82 |
| 13.      | Ladakh            | 0.05                                                                   | 0.05                             |                               100    |
| 14.      | Madhya Pradesh    | 7,53.31                                                                | 3,41.53                          |                                45.34 |
| 15.      | Maharashtra       | 4,12.59                                                                | 2,96.05                          |                                71.76 |
| 16.      | Manipur           | 10.14                                                                  | 6.55                             |                                64.6  |
| 17.      | Meghalaya         | 2.28                                                                   | 1.31                             |                                57.47 |
| 18.      | Nagaland          | 0.03                                                                   | 0.03                             |                               100    |
| 19.      | Odisha            | 7,80.20                                                                | 4,98.03                          |                                63.83 |
| 20.      | Puducherry        | 19.58                                                                  | 19.58                            |                               100    |
| 21.      | Punjab            | 14,45.84                                                               | 14,45.84                         |                               100    |
| 22.      | Rajasthan         | 8,65.41                                                                | 3,79.29                          |                                43.83 |
| 23.      | Sikkim            | 3.36                                                                   | 3.11                             |                                92.45 |
| 24.      | Tamil Nadu        | 29,12.56                                                               | 20,88.60                         |                                71.71 |
| 25.      | Telangana         | 3,22.07                                                                | 3,22.07                          |                               100    |
| 26.      | Tripura           | 1,41.41                                                                | 95.39                            |                                67.46 |
| 27.      | Uttar Pradesh     | 37,34.03                                                               | 18,98.27                         |                                50.84 |
| 28.      | Uttarakhand       | 2,26.67                                                                | 1,72.57                          |                                76.13 |
| 29.      | West Bengal       | 47,17.91                                                               | 17,50.02                         |                                37.09 |
|          | Total             | 2,18,06.28                                                             | 1,32,64.76                       |                                60.83 |

As reported by States/ UTs of A&N Islands, DNH&DD, Goa, Lakshadweep and Mizoram, there are no habitations in these States/UTs with proportion of SC population more than 50%.

Source: JJM - IMIS

HH: Household