🔆 Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: From Local Action to Water Security
📍 Why in News?
Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB), launched in 2024, has emerged as a community-led water conservation initiative focused on groundwater recharge, water storage and local water security. The latest PIB Backgrounder highlights how local communities across States are adapting the initiative to their ecological conditions.
📍 What is Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari?
🟢 Launched: 6 September 2024
🟢 Objective: Community partnership and ownership in water conservation
🟢 Focus: Low-cost groundwater recharge structures, water storage and revival of defunct borewells
🟢 Approach: Whole-of-Government + Whole-of-Society
🟢 Guiding 3Cs: Community, CSR and Cost
🟢 Emphasises scientifically designed and locally appropriate solutions.
📍 Scale of the Initiative
🟢 JSJB 1.0: Over 27 lakh structures constructed by May 2025
🟢 JSJB 2.0: Over 1.5 crore groundwater recharge structures by May 2026
🟢 In June 2026, JSJB was integrated with Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain, becoming JSJB: Catch the Rain
🟢 As of 3 September 2026, over 1.58 crore artificial groundwater recharge structures had been constructed.
📍 Key Governance Priorities
The Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Departmental Summit, held on 1–2 September 2026, identified JSJB: Catch the Rain as one of its key thematic pillars.
🟢 Greater Jan Bhagidari through public awareness, including the proposed “Jal Utsav”
🟢 Strengthening water management knowledge and capacity in universities
🟢 Inter-State study visits for sharing successful practices
🟢 Robust water data governance through systematic integration, management and utilisation of water-sector data
🟢 Greater Centre–State collaboration and cooperative federalism.
📍 State-Level Innovations
Chhattisgarh — Farmers Made Space for Water
🟢 Under the Aawa Paani Jhoki movement in Korea district, farmers voluntarily dedicated 5% of agricultural land for recharge ponds and terraced pits.
🟢 More than 1,260 farmers adopted the model and over 2,000 soak pits were created.
🟢 Groundwater levels reportedly rose by 3–4 metres in many villages.
🟢 Springs were revived in 17 remote tribal hamlets.
🟢 The model combined farmer ownership with government-supported micro-watershed mapping and hydrogeological assessment. Press Release- Press Information Bureau(7).pdf
Andhra Pradesh — Community-Led Water Planning
🟢 In Prakasam district, Gram Sabhas, door-to-door campaigns, Kalajathas and workshops mobilised farmers, women and youth.
🟢 Local planning included water budgeting, crop planning and groundwater sharing.
🟢 A ridge-to-valley approach was adopted for capturing, storing and recharging rainwater.
🟢 Interventions improved groundwater availability, agricultural and dairy livelihoods, soil moisture and helped reduce distress migration.
🟢 The initiatives benefited about 5,900 people.
Odisha — From Rooftops and Ponds to Aquifers
🟢 CHHATA Scheme: Rooftop rainwater harvesting
🟢 ARUA Scheme: Recharge from water bodies into underground aquifers
🟢 In Jajpur, 117 recharge shafts and 114 rooftop rainwater harvesting systems were created.
🟢 In Cuttack, government institutions and public facilities adopted rooftop harvesting and recharge structures.
🟢 The model links public infrastructure, educational institutions, local water bodies and community participation.
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3September 3, 2026 1.1K 6
