Manipur, Centre sign MoU for Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 to ensure sustainable rural water supply
Imphal, June 10
The Manipur government and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding in New Delhi to implement Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 in the state.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who attended the MoU signing ceremony, said Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 represents a strategic restructuring of the national rural drinking water programme.
"Its primary focus has shifted from the rapid creation of infrastructure to ensuring long-term and sustainable service delivery," the Chief Minister said.
Singh highlighted that the key features of JJM 2.0 include assured service delivery, the Sujalam Bharat digital framework, clearly defined operation and maintenance (O&M) policies, measures for source sustainability, reform-linked funding, and community ownership. These features, he said, would transform the mission from a government scheme into a key instrument for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047.
The Chief Minister also praised the Ministry of Jal Shakti for its efforts in formulating the mission's guidelines. Reaffirming the state government's commitment, Singh assured full support for the effective implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 in Manipur. He said the state government would work towards achieving the mission's objectives in both letter and spirit.
Later, in a Facebook post, Singh said the Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 signifies a transformative shift from infrastructure creation to ensuring sustainable and assured drinking water service delivery to rural households. He added that with its focus on source sustainability, community participation, strengthened operation and maintenance systems, and digital governance, the mission will play a vital role in advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047.
He also expressed his appreciation to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for its continued support and commitment towards strengthening rural water supply infrastructure. "The government of Manipur remains steadfast in its resolve to implement the mission effectively and ensure safe and reliable drinking water access for every eligible household across the state," Singh stated.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, C.R. Patil; Deputy Chief Minister and Minister-in-charge of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Losii Dikho; Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ashok K.K. Meena; and other senior officials.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see focus on source sustainability. In the hills of Manipur, water sources are drying up due to climate change. Simply laying pipelines won't help if there's no water to fill them. Community ownership is key - let's see if the state government actually involves local women's groups in management.
I'm impressed by the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision connecting rural water supply to national development. But isn't this just another MoU signing ceremony with fancy words? The real test will be in the next 2-3 years when they need to maintain these systems. Let's hold them accountable!
As someone from the NE region, I'm cautiously optimistic. Previous schemes failed because of lack of local participation and corruption in tenders. This 2.0 version with reform-linked funding could change things, but only if they crack down on middlemen. Give the gram panchayats real power!
The Sujalam digital framework sounds promising but we need to ensure internet connectivity in remote Manipur villages. Many areas still have poor network coverage. Digital governance is useless if the app doesn't load in the field. Hope the centre provides necessary infrastructure support alongside this MoU.
I appreciate the shift from mere infrastructure to service delivery. In my home district, women used to walk 2 km for water even after pipes were installed because the supply was irregular. If JJM 2.0 ensures 24x7 water supply, it will truly transform rural lives. Fingers crossed! 💧
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