178 'water warriors' to grace Republic Day parade, celebrate achievements of Jal Jeevan Mission
water warriors" from across the nation have been invited as special guests to attend the grand 76th Republic Day Parade here and meet Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil, officials said. These individuals have played pivotal roles in transforming their communities through the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) which aims to provide safe and sustainable drinking water to every household, they said.
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From the arid landscapes of Rajasthan to the lush greenery of Assam, these grassroots champions have led their communities in achieving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) goals, showcasing the power of collective action in building a healthier and more sustainable India, the officials said.
In Uttar Pradesh, Rajendra Prasad, pradhan of Jangal Dhoosar in Gorakhpur, mobilised his community to shift from unsafe hand pumps to piped water systems.
Through community meetings and partnerships with Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs), the number of functional household tap connections in his village soared from 950 to 3,550 — a 275% increase. This transformation has reduced waterborne diseases and freed women from the burden of fetching water daily.
Similarly, in Saroura village, retired mechanical engineer Puranmasi addressed bacteriological contamination by integrating JJM and Swachh Bharat
