Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: National Water Conservation Initiative Achievements
The Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative, launched on 6 September 2024, has achieved significant scale in water conservation efforts across India. The program focuses on constructing low-cost groundwater recharge and water storage structures while reviving defunct borewells, employing a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach guided by the 3Cs principle: Community, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Cost.
Under JSJB 1.0, more than 27 lakh structures were constructed across the country by May 2025 to capture rainwater and replenish groundwater. JSJB 2.0, launched in June 2025, accelerated these efforts with over 1.5 crore groundwater recharge structures constructed by May 2026. In June 2026, the initiative was integrated with the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign as Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Catch the Rain (JSJB: CTR), achieving a cumulative total of more than 1.58 crore artificial groundwater recharge structures by 3 September 2026.
Departmental Summit and National Focus
The Ministry of Jal Shakti's Departmental Summit held in New Delhi on 1-2 September 2026 featured JSJB: CTR as one of four key thematic pillars alongside water infrastructure projects, source sustainability of drinking water systems, and rural water supply under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized Jan Bhagidari (Public Participation) and suggested promoting "Jal Utsav" for greater public awareness. He called for strengthening water management education in universities, structured inter-State study visits involving public representatives and farmers, and robust water data governance with systematic management and analysis of water-sector data.
State-Level Implementation and Results
In Chhattisgarh's Korea district, the Aawa Paani Jhoki movement saw farmers voluntarily dedicate 5% of their agricultural land for recharge ponds and terraced pits. More than 1,260 farmers adopted this model, creating over 2,000 soak pits across the district. Groundwater levels rose by 3 to 4 metres in many villages, with springs revived in 17 remote tribal hamlets.
In Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam district, villages including Murugummi, Marella, and Thangella implemented ridge-to-valley water management approaches. Murugummi constructed 71 water conservation structures providing 8.11 lakh cubic metres of cumulative storage capacity supporting protective irrigation across 264.5 hectares. Marella built 53 structures with 10.04 lakh cubic metres capacity, plus renovated community ponds adding 5.95 lakh cubic metres. Thangella created 71 structures with 5.89 lakh cubic metres capacity, enhanced by traditional water body revival adding 3.98 lakh cubic metres. These efforts improved groundwater availability for approximately 5,900 people.
In Odisha, the JSJB initiative implemented the CHHATA Scheme for rooftop rainwater capture and the ARUA Scheme for recharge from water bodies into aquifers. Jajpur district constructed 117 recharge shafts under ARUA and 114 rooftop rainwater harvesting systems under CHHATA between 2022-23 and 2025-26 across high-priority blocks including Korei, Binjharpur, Bari, Rasulpur, Dasarathpur and Jajpur. Cuttack district established 57 rooftop systems and 35 recharge shafts, while Digapahandi in Ganjam district addressed groundwater declines of 1-3 metres between 2020-2022 through intervention systems that showed better post-monsoon recovery.
The initiative represents a comprehensive approach connecting traditional knowledge with scientific planning, local ownership with institutional support, and individual action with collective outcomes toward building resilient communities and strengthening India's long-term water security.