Permanent Mission of India
New York

World Water Day 2026 – Water and Gender Equality

Statement by Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, Permanent Representative
19 March 2026

Chair,

I convey appreciation for the organisers of today’s event.

Water lies at the heart of sustainable development. Yet progress on SDG 6 remains off track, with billions still lacking access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services. Addressing this challenge requires sustained investments, strengthened capacities and inclusive governance that recognises the central role of women and girls in water management.

India has placed these principles at the centre of its national initiatives. Through the Jal Jeevan Mission, India is implementing one of the world’s largest programmes to provide piped drinking water to rural households. Community participation is a cornerstone of this effort, with village water committees, many of them led by women, playing a key role in planning, monitoring and maintaining local water systems.

Here at the United Nations, our collective efforts can be most impactful when they focus on areas that unite us, like strengthening national capacities, particularly in developing countries, promoting technological innovation and advancing scientific cooperation.

In this spirit, India looks forward to continued engagement in upcoming milestones, including the 2026 UN Water Conference, the High-Level Political Forum reviewing SDG 6, and the ongoing Dushanbe Water Process.

At the same time, we should remain mindful that water governance arrangements are effective when they reflect the specific contexts in which water resources are managed.

India is happy to share its experience in mobilising Jan Shakti (people’s power) for decentralised water governance that offers a blueprint for sustainable development that can be adopted across the Global South.

Chair,

It was not my intention to comment on a bilateral issue in this forum, but I am compelled to respond to Pakistan, as it has chosen to misuse today’s meeting for its divisive agenda.

​India entered into the Indus Waters Treaty 65 years ago in good faith, in a spirit of goodwill and friendship. Pakistan violated this spirit by inflicting three wars and thousands of terror attacks on India. Tens of thousands of innocent Indians became victims to Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks. Our patience and magnanimity did not change Pakistan’s ways. Eventually, we were compelled to announce that the Treaty will be held in abeyance until Pakistan, the global epicentre of terror, credibly and irrevocably ends its support for all forms of terrorism.

​There have been fundamental changes over the last 65 years. Technology for dam infrastructure, growing need for clean energy, climate and demographic changes warrant amendments to the Treaty. All our efforts to discuss modifications to the Treaty with Pakistan were rebuffed. 

​India has always been a responsible upper riparian state. But responsibility is a two-way street. Pakistan must unconditionally abjure terrorism as an instrument of its state policy. It must uphold the sanctity of human life before talking of upholding the sanctity of treaties.

In conclusion, I wish to assure all those who adopt a constructive approach to the water agenda that India remains committed to working with partners to advance inclusive, nationally driven and gender-responsive approaches to water management for the benefit of all.

I thank you, Chair.

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