India, March 8 -- Water is more than a necessity; it is a force for change. When communities gain access to safe drinking water, they gain health, education, and economic opportunities. Nowhere is this transformation more profound than in the lives of women, who have historically borne the brunt of water scarcity. In rural India, millions of women have spent their lives walking miles to fetch water, sacrificing their time, energy, and aspirations. But when water flows directly into their homes, so does the potential for empowerment. It is time to recognise water security as a feminist issue-one that has the power to dismantle gender barriers and reshape communities from within.

The launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in 2019 marked a ...