JJM 2.0: ‘Sujal Gram Samvad’ Strengthens Community-Led Rural Water Governance

The Secretary urged Gram Panchayats and village communities to take responsibility for operation and maintenance of rural water supply systems to ensure uninterrupted access to safe drinking water.

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti successfully organised the seventh edition of the multilingual 'Sujal Gram Samvad' today, reaffirming the Government of India's commitment to community-led water governance and sustainable rural drinking water management under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0.

The virtual Samvad brought together a wide spectrum of participants from across the country, including:

• Gram Panchayat representatives

• Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs)

• Jal Sahiyas, Jal Bahinis and Jal Sakhis

• Anganwadi workers

• Students and teachers

• Community members

• State and district officials

• JJM State Mission Directors

• District Collectors and Deputy Commissioners

The interaction focused on sharing grassroots experiences, best practices and operational challenges in managing rural drinking water systems sustainably.

DDWS Secretary Emphasises Community Ownership of Water Systems

The Samvad was chaired by:

Shri Ashok K.K. Meena

Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation

in the presence of:

Shri D. Senthil Pandiyan

Joint Secretary, National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM)

along with senior DDWS officials.

In his opening remarks, Shri Ashok K.K. Meena described the Sujal Gram Samvad as a platform to learn directly from Gram Panchayats and local communities.

He emphasized that:

• Community ownership

• Local participation

• Sustainable operation and maintenance (O&M)

are central to the success of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.

"Traditionally, rural communities themselves managed their drinking water resources. Reviving this spirit of local ownership is essential for long-term sustainability," he said.

The Secretary urged Gram Panchayats and village communities to take responsibility for operation and maintenance of rural water supply systems to ensure uninterrupted access to safe drinking water.

He also noted that district administrations must continue supporting villages in managing increasingly engineering-oriented rural water infrastructure.

Massive Participation Across Multiple States

The seventh edition of the Samvad featured village-level interactions from six Gram Panchayats across different states and languages.

The initiative witnessed approximately:

4,000 digital participants

including women, children, youth and elderly community members.

The discussions were conducted in regional languages including:

• Rajasthani

• Mizo

• Garhwali

• Kannada

• Punjabi

• Hindi

Officials stated that the multilingual format strengthened local participation and community engagement.

Rajasthan: Women Lead Water Quality Testing and Rainwater Harvesting

GP Khandwa Patta, Churu District

Representatives from Rajasthan shared their experiences regarding JJM implementation in the village.

The Panchayat informed that:

• Household tap water supply is operational

• The VWSC is fully functional

• Women actively participate in maintaining water supply assets

The village also highlighted the construction of traditional:

'Kund/Tanka' rainwater harvesting structures

to strengthen water conservation.

Women from the village have additionally been trained to conduct:

• Water quality testing

• School water monitoring

• Anganwadi water testing

• Household testing

District officials informed that efforts are ongoing to:

• Address leakages

• Improve O&M

• Strengthen coordination between Gram Panchayats and PHED

The state is also implementing extensive water conservation measures under the:

'Jal Sanchay' Campaign

Mizoram: WhatsApp-Based Community Water Governance

GP Khamrang, Kolasib District

Village representatives from Mizoram highlighted a strong community-driven approach to water management.

Officials noted that villagers remain connected through a dedicated:

WhatsApp community group

used for:

• Water supply updates

• Maintenance coordination

• Community meetings

• Awareness activities

The village also conducts:

• Regular chlorination

• Community-led monitoring

• Jal Seva Aankalan activities

to ensure safe and sustainable water supply.

Officials stated that the district has already achieved:

100% household tap water coverage under JJM

Uttarakhand: User Charges Supporting Sustainable O&M

GP Ghulekh, Pauri Garhwal

Village representatives informed that the community conducts regular meetings and collects:

₹20 monthly user charge

through the VWSC for:

• Repair materials

• Quick maintenance

• Routine upkeep

Beneficiaries stated that household tap water has significantly reduced the burden on women who previously fetched water from distant sources.

District officials highlighted that despite difficult mountainous terrain, multiple JJM schemes have been completed successfully.

Water supply sustainability efforts include:

• Spring rejuvenation

• River rejuvenation

• Solar-powered supply systems

under the:

Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARRA)

Karnataka: Equitable Water Distribution Through Better Planning

GP Inahalli, Chitradurga District

Village representatives speaking in Kannada explained that before JJM implementation, the village faced:

• Irregular water supply

• Unequal distribution

• Unauthorised connections

• Direct pump usage issues

Following scientific planning, the Panchayat established:

• New borewells

• Overhead storage tanks

• Dedicated pipeline networks

The village now collects:

₹70 per household

toward operation and maintenance.

Officials noted that Karnataka has already declared:

Nearly 260 villages as 24x7 water supply villages

with a target to expand the model to:

1,000 villages

during the current year.

Punjab: Village Moving Toward 'Model Village' Status

GP Gill Kalan, Bathinda District

Village representatives from Punjab highlighted that households now receive:

• Regular drinking water supply

• Improved water quality

• Better service management

Monthly Gram Panchayat review meetings are conducted to discuss:

• Water management

• O&M activities

• Service delivery challenges

Officials praised the Panchayat's strong community participation, particularly the involvement of women.

Punjab Mission Director:

Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar

stated that the village is progressing toward becoming a:

'Model Village'

under Jal Jeevan Mission.

Uttar Pradesh: River-Based Water Supply Expands Coverage

GP Tinhari Mafi, Banda District

Village representatives from Uttar Pradesh stated that household tap connections have now been provided across the village.

Regular water supply is being ensured during:

• Morning hours

• Evening hours

Beneficiaries said the scheme has significantly reduced the burden on women and improved daily convenience.

Officials highlighted that water is being supplied through large-scale schemes using surface water from:

• Yamuna River

• Ken River

The district is also undertaking:

• Pond rejuvenation

• Bunding

• Farm pond development

• Water conservation measures

to improve long-term sustainability.

'Jal Sarthi' Mobile App for Real-Time Monitoring

Officials from Uttar Pradesh also highlighted the launch of the:

'Jal Sarthi' mobile application

which enables:

• Real-time water supply monitoring

• Grievance redressal

• Service tracking

Several villages in Banda district have already achieved:

'Har Ghar Jal' certification

Government Focuses on Sustainable Rural Water Management

In his concluding remarks:

Shri Kamal Kishore Soan

Additional Secretary & Mission Director, NJJM

appreciated the efforts of Gram Panchayats, district administrations and state governments in strengthening community-led water governance.

He encouraged states and Panchayats to replicate successful models of:

• Transparency

• Accountability

• Community participation

• Sustainable O&M

across rural India.

Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 Prioritising Local Participation

Officials noted that Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 is increasingly focused on:

• Sustainable infrastructure

• Source sustainability

• Community management

• Local ownership

• Long-term water security

The Sujal Gram Samvad initiative reflects the government's broader effort to ensure that rural drinking water systems are not only built but sustainably managed by communities themselves.

The programme concluded with a renewed emphasis on strengthening grassroots participation and ensuring safe, reliable and sustainable drinking water access for every rural household.