India can avoid 400k deaths if JJM meets target: WHO report

India could prevent 400,000 deaths from diarrhoea and save 14 million DALYs by achieving universal rural coverage under the Jal Jeevan Mission, according to a WHO report. The programme aims to connect all of India’s rural households with a functional tap-water connection by 2024 and has so far reached 62.84%. A National Sample Survey Organisation survey found that in Jharkhand, it takes women 40 minutes one way to collect water, without taking into account waiting time, leading to a loss of 45.5 minutes daily for women across the country.