Hazaribagh, March 20 (NationPress) Pinky Rana, the head of Kanchampur village, a secluded panchayat in the district, has captured public attention due to her exceptional and praiseworthy contributions to the Jal Jeevan Mission.

She took on the significant responsibility of providing clean drinking water to 950 households in her panchayat and successfully achieved this goal.

On March 11, she was recognized by President Droupadi Murmu at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi for her remarkable efforts and outstanding contributions to the 'Jal Jeevan Mission', ensuring that every household receives clean water.

Upon her return home after receiving the Presidential award, she was greeted with a rousing reception from the villagers.

Pinky expressed her heartfelt gratitude and credited the community for their support in reaching this challenging milestone. She stated that the collaborative effort of the community was instrumental in achieving this remarkable success.

She explained that each household in the village contributes Rs 62 monthly, which is deposited into a bank account designated for the maintenance of the village's water tower, ensuring it remains operational for future needs.

The Kanchanpur Panchayat comprises three villages: Kanchanpur, Hedlag, and Govindpur. Currently, clean and treated water is accessible to around 950 households across these villages.

Pinky Rana began her journey towards this goal in 2023, and through three years of dedicated efforts, strategic planning, and community collaboration, she fulfilled the objective of connecting every household with the Jal Jeevan Mission.

In an interview with IANS, Pinky Rana described this achievement as a source of great pride.

She expressed her joy at being recognized by the President, asserting that this honor not only uplifted her spirits but also served as a motivation for other elected officials to execute government schemes effectively and with integrity.

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she noted the emphasis on empowering Gram Panchayats, which is driving a wave of development across all Panchayats.

Pinky underlined the importance of community involvement in the success of this initiative.

A total of Rs 62.50 is collected monthly from each household in the Panchayat, which is used for the upkeep and repair of plumbing infrastructure and filtration systems, ensuring long-lasting functionality.

Water is distributed to the village from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, allowing residents to collect enough water for their daily requirements.

Significantly, the Jal Jeevan Mission was initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, aiming to provide tap water to every rural household. At that time, only 3.23 crore households had access to tap water.

Recent estimates indicate that more than 12.48 crore additional households have since been connected to tap water, marking one of the most rapid expansions of basic infrastructure in rural India.