Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma launched the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan (Water Conservation Mass Participation Campaign) on October 20, 2025, at Jhunjhunu district. The campaign aims to transform water conservation into a true people's movement across Rajasthan, mobilising citizens, panchayati raj institutions, urban local bodies, civil society, and government departments in a unified effort to harvest and conserve rainwater.
Jhunjhunu district was chosen as the launch venue given its geographical importance in the semi-arid Shekhawati region, where groundwater depletion has been a persistent challenge. The district falls under the broader Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) ecosystem, which focuses on providing functional household tap connections (FHTC) to every rural household. The Jal Sanchay campaign complements JJM by focusing on the demand-side management of water resources — ensuring that the water made available through JJM infrastructure is conserved, recharged, and used sustainably.
The campaign includes activities such as construction and rejuvenation of johads (traditional step-tanks), check dams, talab deepening, rooftop rainwater harvesting systems, and plantation drives to increase green cover and improve the water table. Schools, gram sabhas, and youth clubs have been mobilised to participate in community-level water audits and conservation pledges.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma emphasised that Rajasthan, being a water-scarce state, cannot afford to rely solely on government infrastructure — every household and every citizen must become a water conservationist. He called upon district collectors and sarpanchs to ensure 100% participation in the abhiyan within their respective jurisdictions.
The Abhiyan is planned as a statewide rolling campaign, with district-level events to be held across all 50 districts of Rajasthan over the subsequent months, building grassroots momentum for sustained water conservation behaviour.