New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) The Jal Shakti Ministry on Thursday marked Global Handwashing Day and said India has laid the foundation for safer water use, improved sanitation and better hygiene practices in rural communities through the Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
In a statement, the ministry said more than 15.9 crore rural households now have drinking water tap connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), while over 12.24 crore household toilets have been constructed under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) (SBM-G), which has also helped sustain the open defecation free (ODF) status.
“Global Handwashing Day is an opportunity to renew our collective commitment to hygiene as an essential pillar of public health and well-being,” the ministry said.
It said the two initiatives form an integral part of the country’s broader water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) ecosystem, where infrastructure, awareness and community participation work together to deliver lasting health benefits.
“Sustaining this progress requires consistent adoption of essential hygiene practices, particularly handwashing with soap, as a daily habit to prevent infections, protect families and build healthier, cleaner and more resilient communities,” it said.
Observed every year on October 15, Global Handwashing Day highlights the importance of making handwashing a part of everyday life.
“The message for 2026 is clear: awareness must translate into action, and action must become a habit,” the ministry said.
Citing UNICEF estimates, the ministry said unsafe hand hygiene is responsible for approximately 3.94 lakh deaths from diarrhoeal diseases and 3.56 lakh deaths from acute respiratory infections globally every year, with children particularly vulnerable to these preventable infections.
Handwashing with soap is a simple, cost-effective measure that can help reduce these risks, provided people have access to water, soap and suitable facilities, it said.
It said handwashing connects water and sanitation infrastructure with improved health outcomes, as toilets and household tap connections create the conditions for better hygiene.
Washing hands with soap at critical moments, including after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food, helps prevent the spread of infections, it added.
The ministry said reliable household tap connections make it easier for families to incorporate hygiene into their daily routines, while reduced dependence on fetching water can ease the time and physical burden on women and children.
More than 9.3 lakh rural schools and over 9.7 lakh Anganwadi centres have drinking water tap connections, creating a foundation for better hygiene practices among children, it said.
Teachers and Anganwadi workers can reinforce handwashing through demonstrations, awareness sessions and daily routines, helping children understand the correct technique and the critical times for washing their hands, the ministry said.
Highlighting community participation, it said the Jal Doot initiative under the JJM engages students as water ambassadors to build awareness about water quality, safe water handling and conservation. Their involvement in community water management, including activities related to Village Action Plans (VAPs), also encourages local participation in protecting water resources, it said.
The ministry said behaviour change and community participation remain central to sustaining the gains made under the JJM and SBM-G, as sanitation facilities protect health when they are used and maintained.
“Handwashing with soap completes this effort, helping translate access to water and sanitation into meaningful health protection,” it said.
The ministry stressed that making handwashing habitual requires sustained efforts by schools, Anganwadi centres, frontline workers and community institutions, along with reliable household access to water, soap and suitable facilities.
Repeated reinforcement in everyday settings helps turn awareness into consistent behaviour and strengthens the health benefits of investments in water and sanitation, it added. PTI ADI
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