Smart Water Governance and Social Inclusion: Opportunities and Challenges among Rural Households and Jal Jeevan Mission Beneficiaries in Kerala

The growing integration of digital technologies into public administration has transformed governance systems across the world. Within the water sector, smart water governance has emerged as an innovative approach that combines digital technologies, real-time monitoring systems, data analytics, geographic information systems, and citizen-centric platforms to improve water management and service delivery. While these technological interventions offer significant opportunities for enhancing efficiency, transparency, and sustainability, concerns remain regarding social inclusion, digital inequalities, and equitable access to governance processes. Kerala, despite its abundant rainfall and extensive water resources, continues to face challenges such as seasonal water scarcity, groundwater depletion, water pollution, and uneven access to safe drinking water. Recent initiatives under the Jal Jeevan Mission and various state-level programmes have increasingly incorporated digital technologies into water management systems. However, limited empirical evidence exists regarding how these interventions are perceived and experienced by rural communities. This study examines the opportunities and challenges associated with smart water governance among rural households and Jal Jeevan Mission beneficiaries in Kerala. A survey was conducted among 300 households selected from Palakkad, Malappuram, and Thrissur districts. The findings reveal moderate levels of awareness regarding smart water governance initiatives, positive perceptions towards technology-enabled water management, and significant concerns regarding digital exclusion among vulnerable groups. The study argues that smart water governance should be understood not merely as a technological innovation but as a socio-technical process that requires digital literacy, community participation, institutional accountability, and social inclusion. The findings contribute to emerging debates on digital governance, environmental justice, and sustainable water management in developing societies.