Content

• Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari – Korea District 5% Water Conservation Model 
• Affordable Medicines at Janaushadhi: Ensuring Quality Healthcare without Financial Strain

Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari – Korea District 5% Water Conservation Model 

Why in News ?

• On 5 March 2026, PIB highlighted the Korea district 5% water conservation model under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, demonstrating how community participation and decentralized rainwater harvesting can transform water scarcity into water security.
• The initiative emerged through the “Aawa Paani Jhoki” movement, where farmers voluntarily allocated 5% of their agricultural land for recharge ponds and terraced pits, creating a low-cost climate adaptation model.
• The model gained policy attention as a replicable water governance innovation capable of strengthening groundwater recharge, agricultural resilience, and rural livelihoods, particularly in rain-fed and tribal regions of India.

Relevance

• GS Paper II – Governance
  • Community participation in natural resource management.
  • Role of Gram Sabhas, decentralised planning, participatory governance.
  • Implementation of water conservation schemes (Jal Shakti Abhiyan, MGNREGA convergence).
• GS Paper III – Environment & Agriculture
  • Water resource management, groundwater depletion, watershed management.
  • Climate-resilient agriculture and adaptation to erratic monsoon patterns.
  • Decentralised rainwater harvesting and sustainable irrigation practices.

Practice Question

Q. Community participation is critical for sustainable water governance in India. Examine the significance of the Korea district’s 5% water conservation model in strengthening decentralized water management and climate resilience. (250 words)

Static Background: Water Stress in India

• India faces severe water stress as it holds only 4% of global freshwater resources while supporting nearly 18% of the world’s population, creating structural pressure on water availability and groundwater reserves.
• According to NITI Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index, around 600 million Indians face high to extreme water stress, while 21 major cities risk groundwater depletion, highlighting urgency for decentralized water conservation strategies.
• India receives about 4,000 billion cubic metres (BCM) of annual precipitation, but only ~1,123 BCM is utilizable water, due to poor storage infrastructure, runoff losses, groundwater over-extraction, and inefficient watershed management.
• The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) reports that nearly 17% of India’s groundwater assessment units are over-exploited, with agricultural irrigation accounting for nearly 89% of groundwater extraction.

Concept of the Korea District 5% Model

• The 5% Model proposes that farmers voluntarily allocate 5% of their farmland for small-scale rainwater harvesting structures such as recharge ponds, terraced pits, and field trenches to capture rainfall within agricultural landscapes.
• The model is based on the principle of “in-situ rainwater conservation”, ensuring that rainwater is retained where it falls, thereby improving soil moisture, groundwater recharge, and long-term agricultural productivity.
• Unlike large dam-based approaches, the initiative relies on distributed micro-water structures, community participation, and natural recharge processes, minimizing environmental disruption while enhancing local water security.

Institutional Design and Governance Mechanism

• The initiative was institutionalized through Gram Sabha resolutions, ensuring democratic legitimacy, local ownership, and long-term sustainability of water conservation infrastructure within village governance systems.
• District administration supported the movement through hydrogeological mapping, micro-watershed planning, and technical guidance, ensuring that recharge structures were strategically located for maximum groundwater recharge efficiency.
• Implementation involved convergence with government schemes such as MGNREGA, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), and Jal Shakti Abhiyan, enabling labour support, infrastructure development, and behavioural awareness campaigns.

Community Participation and Social Mobilisation

• The success of the initiative was driven by strong community participation, transforming water conservation from a government programme into a collective social movement rooted in local ownership and behavioural change.
• Women played a critical leadership role as “Neer Nayikas”, who mobilized households to construct soak pits, rooftop recharge systems, and greywater drainage structures, strengthening community awareness on water conservation.
• Youth volunteers known as “Jal Doots” supported technical mapping, trench digging, canal desilting, and awareness campaigns through street plays, wall paintings, and community meetings promoting sustainable water practices.
• Community-led shramdaan activities revived more than 440 traditional ponds, restoring them as natural groundwater recharge structures while simultaneously reviving local ecological systems and traditional water management practices.

Infrastructure Creation and Implementation Scale

• More than 1,260 farmers voluntarily adopted the 5% recharge model, allocating parts of their farmland for rainwater harvesting structures and demonstrating strong behavioural transformation towards sustainable water use.
• Over 2,000 soak pits were constructed across villages to capture household wastewater and rainwater runoff, thereby enhancing groundwater recharge and reducing stagnation-related health risks.
• In a remarkable demonstration of collective action, villagers constructed 660 soak pits within three hours, symbolizing the power of coordinated community participation in achieving rapid environmental outcomes.
• Additionally, over 500 beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) voluntarily constructed soak pits beside their houses, integrating water recharge practices into everyday rural housing infrastructure.

Environmental and Hydrological Impact

• Groundwater levels increased by approximately 3–4 meters in several villages, indicating substantial improvement in aquifer recharge due to decentralized water retention and enhanced infiltration of rainwater into subsurface layers.
• The initiative led to the revival of natural springs in 17 remote tribal hamlets, improving drinking water availability and reducing the vulnerability of marginalized communities to seasonal water shortages.
• Soil erosion significantly reduced due to water retention within agricultural fields, preventing nutrient-rich topsoil loss and enhancing the long-term fertility and productivity of farmland.
• Enhanced soil moisture levels improved crop resilience during dry spells, reducing dependency on groundwater irrigation and increasing climate resilience in rain-fed agricultural landscapes.

Economic and Livelihood Impact

• Improved soil moisture retention and groundwater recharge contributed to higher agricultural productivity, enabling farmers to cultivate crops more reliably even during irregular rainfall patterns.
• Reduction in water scarcity led to lower irrigation costs and improved crop yields, thereby strengthening the economic stability of small and marginal farmers dependent on rain-fed agriculture.
• Seasonal distress migration reduced by approximately 25%, as improved water availability stabilized agricultural livelihoods and created more consistent employment opportunities within rural communities.
• By relying on low-cost decentralized water harvesting structures, the initiative avoided large capital investments while delivering substantial economic and environmental returns.

Governance Significance

• The Korea model demonstrates an effective example of participatory water governance, where community ownership, administrative facilitation, and scientific planning collectively contribute to sustainable resource management.
• The model aligns with principles of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) by combining hydrological science, local knowledge, community participation, and decentralized governance mechanisms.
• It represents a shift from centralized infrastructure-driven water policy toward decentralized climate adaptation strategies, which are increasingly critical in managing India’s groundwater crisis.

Environmental and Climate Resilience Significance

• By capturing rainwater at the micro-watershed level, the model strengthens climate resilience against erratic monsoon patterns, drought cycles, and rising temperatures associated with climate change.
• Decentralized recharge structures enhance aquifer sustainability, ensuring long-term availability of groundwater resources that are essential for agriculture, drinking water supply, and ecosystem balance.
• Revival of ponds and springs contributes to local biodiversity restoration, improving habitat conditions for aquatic organisms and enhancing ecological stability in rural landscapes.

Challenges and Limitations

• Small and marginal farmers with limited landholdings may hesitate to allocate 5% of productive agricultural land, potentially limiting universal adoption of the model in highly fragmented agricultural regions.
• Long-term sustainability requires regular maintenance and desilting of recharge structures, which may decline if community participation weakens over time.
• Hydrological benefits depend on adequate rainfall patterns, meaning the model may require adaptation in extremely arid regions where precipitation levels are consistently low.
• Scaling the model across diverse agro-climatic zones requires context-specific watershed planning and strong institutional support from local governments and district administrations.

Policy Relevance and Alignment

• The initiative supports objectives of the National Water Policy 2012, which emphasizes community participation, groundwater recharge, and decentralized water management.
• It complements Jal Shakti Abhiyan, which promotes rainwater harvesting, watershed restoration, and sustainable groundwater management across water-stressed districts.
• The model contributes to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by promoting sustainable water management practices and strengthening community-based water governance.
• It also aligns with India’s climate adaptation strategy, as decentralized water conservation improves resilience of rural communities against climate-induced water stress.

Replication Potential

• The 5% model has strong potential for replication in semi-arid and drought-prone regions, particularly in areas dependent on rain-fed agriculture and vulnerable to groundwater depletion.
• Regions such as Bundelkhand, Marathwada, Western Rajasthan, and Rayalaseema could benefit from similar community-driven watershed initiatives combined with scientific hydrogeological planning.
• Successful scaling requires institutional incentives, financial support for farmers, integration with rural development schemes, and capacity-building of local governance institutions.

Way Forward

• Institutionalize the 5% farmland recharge model within MGNREGA watershed development programmes, enabling large-scale construction of decentralized water harvesting structures across rural landscapes.
• Provide financial incentives, subsidies, or ecosystem service payments to farmers who allocate land for groundwater recharge structures, encouraging wider voluntary participation.
• Use GIS mapping, satellite monitoring, and digital water accounting tools to scientifically identify optimal locations for recharge structures within micro-watersheds.
• Strengthen Gram Panchayat-led water budgeting and community water management committees, ensuring sustained maintenance and local ownership of conservation infrastructure.
• Integrate the model with National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM) and climate adaptation strategies to create a nationwide decentralized groundwater recharge framework.

Important Keywords

• Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari
• Korea District 5% Water Model
• Decentralized Water Governance
• Community-Based Groundwater Recharge
• Micro-Watershed Management
• In-Situ Rainwater Harvesting
• Participatory Water Conservation
• Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Prelims Pointers

• Korea district is located in Chhattisgarh.
• The 5% Model encourages farmers to voluntarily allocate five percent of farmland for water harvesting structures like recharge ponds and terraced pits to improve groundwater recharge.
• Women volunteers in the initiative are called “Neer Nayikas”, while youth volunteers involved in awareness campaigns and technical support are known as “Jal Doots.”
• The initiative revived 440 traditional ponds, constructed over 2,000 soak pits, and improved groundwater levels by 3–4 meters in several villages.

Affordable Medicines at Janaushadhi: Ensuring Quality Healthcare without Financial Strain

Why in News ?

• On 5 March 2026, PIB highlighted the impact of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) through real-life beneficiaries showing how Janaushadhi Kendras provide affordable, quality generic medicines to citizens.
• The initiative demonstrates how neighbourhood Janaushadhi Kendras (JAKs) are improving medicine accessibility, reducing household medical expenditure, and supporting vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, low-income families, and persons with disabilities.
• The article emphasises how generic medicines available at Janaushadhi Kendras cost significantly less than branded medicines, enabling households to manage chronic illnesses without facing financial hardship.

Relevance

• GS II – Governance / Social Sector
  • Healthcare accessibility and affordability.
  • Government initiatives for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
  • Public policy addressing out-of-pocket health expenditure (OOPE).
• GS III – Economy
  • Pharmaceutical policy and generic medicine promotion.
  • Reducing financial burden of healthcare on households.
  • Inclusive entrepreneurship through Janaushadhi Kendras.

Practice Question

Q. High out-of-pocket health expenditure remains a major barrier to healthcare access in India. Discuss how the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana contributes to affordable healthcare and financial protection for households. (250 words)

India’s Healthcare Financing Challenge

• India faces significant healthcare affordability issues as out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) accounts for nearly 47–48% of total health expenditure, according to National Health Accounts (NHA) estimates.
• Medicines constitute the largest component of household health spending, accounting for about 40–50% of out-of-pocket health expenses, making affordable medicines critical for financial protection.
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), high medicine prices often lead to treatment non-adherence, delayed healthcare seeking, and medical impoverishment, particularly among economically vulnerable populations.
• Recognizing this challenge, the Government launched Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) to promote generic medicines that are equally effective but significantly cheaper than branded drugs.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)

Launch and Institutional Framework

• The scheme was launched in 2008 by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers to improve access to affordable, quality generic medicines across India.
• The programme is implemented through the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), formerly known as Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI).
• It aims to establish Janaushadhi Kendras (JAKs) across the country to sell generic medicines at prices 50–90% lower than branded medicines.

Objectives of PMBJP

• Ensure affordable healthcare by reducing medicine costs for citizens, especially those suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders.
• Promote wider adoption of generic medicines in India’s healthcare system to reduce unnecessary reliance on expensive branded drugs.
• Strengthen last-mile healthcare access by establishing neighbourhood pharmacies in both urban and rural areas.
• Encourage entrepreneurship and livelihood generation, including opportunities for divyang persons, women, and unemployed youth to operate Janaushadhi Kendras.

Key Features of Janaushadhi Kendras

Affordable Generic Medicines

• Medicines sold at Janaushadhi Kendras are priced 50–90% cheaper than branded equivalents, reducing the financial burden on patients requiring long-term medication.

Wide Range of Medicines

• The scheme provides over 2,000 medicines and more than 300 surgical and medical consumables, covering multiple therapeutic categories including antibiotics, anti-diabetic drugs, cardiovascular medicines, and analgesics.

Quality Assurance

• All medicines undergo strict quality testing at National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) certified laboratories before being supplied to Kendras.

Neighbourhood Accessibility

• Janaushadhi Kendras are designed as local neighbourhood pharmacies, ensuring easy access for elderly citizens, working-class families, and rural populations.

Evidence from the PIB Case Studies

Senior Citizen Empowerment

• A 60-year-old beneficiary in Delhi regularly purchases medicines for diabetes, insulin therapy, calcium supplements, acidity, and vitamins from the Janaushadhi Kendra near her home.
• The availability of affordable medicines not only reduces monthly medical expenses, but also restores confidence and independence for senior citizens managing chronic illnesses.

Reduced Healthcare Costs

• One beneficiary reported that medicines costing ₹6,000–₹7,000 in private pharmacies are available for nearly ₹2,000 at Janaushadhi Kendras, indicating substantial cost savings.

Access and Convenience

• Residents highlight that proximity of Kendras eliminates long travel and dependency on others, particularly benefiting elderly citizens and individuals with mobility challenges.

Working-Class Financial Relief

• For working-class families, affordable medicines ensure that healthcare expenses do not disrupt household financial stability, allowing savings to be used for essential family needs.

Divyang Entrepreneurship

• A divyang entrepreneur operating a Janaushadhi Kendra serves 30–40 customers daily, demonstrating how the scheme promotes inclusive entrepreneurship and community service.

Data and Key Achievements of PMBJP

• As of recent government estimates, more than 15,000 Janaushadhi Kendras have been opened across India, significantly expanding access to affordable medicines.
• The scheme has enabled citizens to collectively save thousands of crores of rupees annually on medicine purchases, contributing to financial protection in healthcare.
• Medicines sold under the programme are priced up to 90% cheaper than branded drugs, significantly reducing treatment costs for chronic diseases.
• The initiative supports India’s goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by addressing affordability barriers in medicine access.

Economic Significance

• By reducing medicine prices, Janaushadhi Kendras help lower out-of-pocket health expenditure, which is a major cause of poverty and indebtedness in India.
• Affordable medicines improve treatment adherence, ensuring patients complete prescribed therapies instead of discontinuing medication due to financial constraints.
• The programme generates entrepreneurship opportunities, creating local employment through pharmacy operations and supply chain activities.
• Reduced healthcare expenditure allows households to allocate resources to nutrition, education, and other welfare needs, improving overall socio-economic well-being.

Social and Ethical Dimensions

• The initiative promotes health equity, ensuring that access to essential medicines is not determined by income level.
• By supporting senior citizens, low-income families, and persons with disabilities, the programme strengthens inclusive healthcare delivery systems.
• Affordable medicines restore dignity and independence, particularly for elderly citizens managing chronic illnesses without relying financially on family members.
• The scheme reinforces the ethical principle that healthcare should be a basic public good rather than a luxury service.

Governance and Policy Significance

• The initiative complements Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) by ensuring that post-hospitalization medicines remain affordable.
• It supports National Health Policy 2017, which emphasizes reducing out-of-pocket health expenditure and expanding access to essential medicines.
• The scheme strengthens India’s movement towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by addressing the affordability dimension of healthcare access.
• By promoting generic medicines, the programme also contributes to rational drug use and pharmaceutical cost regulation.

Challenges and Limitations

• Despite progress, public awareness about generic medicines remains limited, leading many patients and doctors to continue preferring branded medicines.
• Some regions still face uneven distribution of Janaushadhi Kendras, particularly in remote rural areas where pharmacy infrastructure is weak.
• Doctors sometimes hesitate to prescribe generic medicines due to perceived concerns about efficacy or pharmaceutical marketing pressures.
• Supply chain issues may occasionally cause temporary shortages of specific medicines, affecting reliability of access in certain locations.

Way Forward

• Expand the network of Janaushadhi Kendras in rural and underserved regions, ensuring universal geographic accessibility.
• Mandate or encourage generic prescription practices among doctors, supported by digital prescription monitoring systems.
• Strengthen public awareness campaigns about generic medicine quality and affordability, building trust among patients.
• Integrate Janaushadhi Kendras with digital health platforms such as Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to enable e-prescriptions and medicine availability tracking.
• Improve supply chain management and logistics infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential medicines across all Kendras.

Important Keywords

• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)
• Janaushadhi Kendras (JAKs)
• Generic Medicines
• Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE)
• Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
• Affordable Healthcare
• Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI)

Prelims Pointers

• PMBJP was launched in 2008 by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• The scheme promotes generic medicines priced 50–90% cheaper than branded drugs.
• It is implemented by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI).
• Janaushadhi Kendras sell over 2,000 medicines and more than 300 surgical consumables.