Massive Protest in Lumding Highlights Allegations of Corruption in Jal Jeevan Mission

Protest Against Corruption in Jal Jeevan Mission

Hojai, Dec 23: Lumding witnessed significant unrest on Saturday as the Congress party organized a large protest, accusing the State government of failing to uphold citizens' fundamental right to clean drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).

The demonstration, filled with passionate slogans and public discontent, underscored the alleged inability of the scheme to provide safe drinking water, despite substantial financial investments.

Protesters chanted phrases like “No water from the taps, but JJM funds have lined Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah’s pockets” and “Down with corruption,” effectively bringing parts of Lumding to a halt.

The rally was a sharp critique of the current administration, which was accused of transforming a welfare initiative into a mechanism for embezzling public funds.

Protests occurred at two key locations within the Lumding Assembly constituency – East Lumding Panchayat and West Lumding Panchayat – attracting participation from Congress leaders, party activists, and numerous affected residents.

A focal point of the protest was the Jal Jeevan Mission water supply project site in Ward no. 2 of East Lumding Panchayat.

Congress leaders and protesters visited the project area to reveal what they termed the harsh realities of the initiative. They highlighted that, despite records indicating significant expenditures, many households still lack access to water through the installed tap connections.

Residents claimed that in several regions, pipelines were only partially installed, pump houses were non-operational, and numerous projects were left incomplete after funds were allocated.

“We have taps outside our homes, yet no water flows through them. We still rely on ponds, tube wells, and distant sources for water,” lamented local women participating in the protest.

The demonstrators symbolically cleared overgrown vegetation and pointed out the incomplete infrastructure to illustrate the project's alleged failures.

According to locals, the Jal Jeevan Mission, intended to guarantee clean drinking water for every household, has devolved into a mere facade and bureaucratic exercise.

Former Lumding MLA Swapan Kar, present at the protest, launched a fierce critique of the State government and the minister involved.

Speaking to the crowd, Kar stated, “The Jal Jeevan Mission was designed to provide drinking water, but it has become a vehicle for siphoning off public funds by ministers and contractors. People received taps, but no water. This is the grim reality. The government must clarify where the funds have gone.”

Kar further accused the State government of prioritizing publicity over tangible results.

“There are advertisements everywhere, yet no water on the ground. This is a direct betrayal of public trust and their basic rights. A thorough investigation into the irregularities of the JJM is essential,” he added.

The protest also saw the participation of Hojai District Congress Committee president Jili Chowdhury, along with senior party officials, block-level leaders, Youth Congress members, Mahila Congress representatives, and a large number of local residents.

In a media statement, Jili Chowdhury accused the government of misappropriating crores of rupees under the pretense of implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission.

“The minister responsible must take moral accountability and resign immediately. If the government tries to protect the wrongdoers, the Congress will escalate its movement throughout the State,” she warned.

Chowdhury emphasized that the Congress party will continue its fight from the streets to the Assam Assembly to defend citizens' rights. “People pay taxes to support the government. If that money is misused instead of providing drinking water, this government has no moral right to remain in power,” she asserted.

Notably, the Lumding protest was part of a broader Statewide agitation initiated by the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee under the leadership of its president Gaurav Gogoi. The Congress has been staging demonstrations across various districts, alleging widespread corruption and failures in the Jal Jeevan Mission's implementation.

Party leaders reported similar grievances emerging from multiple areas in Assam, where official records indicate nearly complete coverage under the JJM, yet the reality on the ground tells a different story.

The protesters in Lumding firmly stated that if the government does not initiate an impartial investigation into the alleged corruption and take action against those responsible, the Congress will launch a larger mass movement in the near future. They stressed that access to drinking water is a fundamental right, and any compromise on this issue will not be tolerated.

The protest has significantly intensified the political climate in Lumding, renewing scrutiny on the actual effectiveness of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Assam. It has once again raised critical questions regarding accountability, transparency, and governance in the execution of key welfare schemes intended for the public.