The Ministry of Jal Shakti has expanded its Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative, which focuses on community-led water conservation across India. Launched in September 2024, the scheme encourages local participation in building water storage and groundwater recharge structures. As of September 2026, more than 1.58 crore artificial groundwater recharge structures have been constructed nationwide.
How the scheme works
Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari operates on three principles: Community participation, Corporate Social Responsibility contributions, and Cost-sharing. The initiative promotes low-cost solutions tailored to local conditions, including rainwater harvesting, recharge ponds, and revival of defunct borewells.
Under the first phase (JSJB 1.0), which ended in May 2025, more than 27 lakh structures were built. The second phase (JSJB 2.0), launched in June 2025, resulted in over 1.5 crore structures by May 2026. In June 2026, the scheme was integrated with the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign.
The scheme operates through ground-level action in states. In Chhattisgarh’s Korea district, over 1,260 farmers voluntarily dedicated 5 percent of their agricultural land for water conservation, creating more than 2,000 soak pits and raising groundwater levels by 3 to 4 metres in many villages. In Andhra Pradesh’s Prakasam district, villages implemented ridge-to-valley water management approaches, creating structures with storage capacities in the lakh cubic metres range and benefiting approximately 5,900 people. In Odisha, institutions captured rooftop rainwater through the CHHATA Scheme while facilitating deep aquifer recharge through the ARUA Scheme across multiple districts.
What this means for you
If you live in a rural area or farming community, your village may soon adopt water conservation structures under this scheme, potentially improving groundwater availability and reducing water scarcity during dry seasons. Students and staff in schools, colleges and government offices in participating areas will see rainwater harvesting systems installed on their buildings. Communities participating in the initiative will have greater say in local water management decisions through Gram Sabhas and awareness campaigns, and women in particular may spend less time fetching water as groundwater and storage capacity improve.