Press Releases

Addressing the gathering, Hon'ble Minister Shri Marcuise N. Marak described Jal Utsav as "a people's movement that encourages every citizen to value, protect and conserve water for present and future generations."

The Minister highlighted Meghalaya's achievements under the Jal Jeevan Mission since 2019, with rural tap water coverage increasing from 4,550 households (0.70%) to 5,47,077 households, covering 84.06% of rural households. He noted that 3,616 villages have achieved Har Ghar Jal status and credited engineers, field staff, district administrations, VWSCs and local communities for this progress.

With Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 extended until December 2028, the Minister said the focus will now shift towards reliable service delivery, source sustainability and stronger community ownership. He highlighted three key initiatives supporting this vision- Sujalam Bharat, a digital platform for monitoring rural water systems; Jal Arpan Diwas, to strengthen community responsibility for water infrastructure; and Jal Utsav, which will encourage public participation in water conservation