Chhattisgarh secured the first position nationally in the third phase (JSJB 3.0) of the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) campaign, emerging as a leading state in rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and community-led water conservation.
- 79,775 water conservation structures were registered in the state, of which 77,719 were completed.
- Five Chhattisgarh districts– Surajpur, Mahasamund, Balod, Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara and Kabirdham featured among India’s top 10 districts for water conservation.
- The state had earlier ranked second nationally in both JSJB 1.0 and JSJB 2.0.
- The model originated in Koriya district, where farmers voluntarily dedicate around 5% of their agricultural land to rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge.
- Farmers, Gram Panchayats, Jal Sakhis, Jal Mitras and local communities are central to implementation. Five blocks classified as critical are expected to move into the normal category.
- Technology such as geo-tagging, mapping, monitoring and periodic reviews is used to track conservation structures and progress.
Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB)
Launched in September 2024 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, JSJB puts community ownership and participation at the centre of water conservation. It promotes low-cost groundwater recharge and water-storage structures and the revival of defunct borewells.
As of 3 September, more than 1.58 crore artificial groundwater recharge structures had been constructed across India.
JSJB: Catch the Rain (JSJB: CTR)
The JSJB: Catch the Rain campaign was launched on 1 June 2026, expanding JSJB and integrating it with the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR).
Its focus is to turn every rainfall event into an opportunity for water conservation through locally suitable, low-cost measures covering rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and water storage, while also strengthening climate resilience.
The programme uses convergence with schemes such as:
- VB-G RAM-G
- Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) under PMKSY
- Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies under PMKSY
- CAMPA
- Finance Commission Grants
- State government schemes
Its Jan Bhagidari approach involves Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies, women’s groups, youth, educational institutions, civil society organisations and local communities.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain
JSA: Catch the Rain was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Water Day, 22 March 2021, with the theme “Catch the Rain, where it falls, when it falls.”
It builds on the Jal Shakti Abhiyan 2019, which covered 1,592 water-stressed blocks in 256 districts and promoted rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, watershed development, rejuvenation of water bodies and afforestation through a Jan Andolan approach. The campaign has continued annually with evolving themes and priorities.
Jal Shakti Kendras (JSKs)
Jal Shakti Kendras are district-level knowledge and facilitation hubs under the campaign. They provide information on water-harvesting techniques, technical guidance to communities and district administrations, and support the planning and implementation of water-conservation activities.