Peyjal Samvad: Accelerating implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 tops agenda
New Delhi, July 14
Sharing district-level best practices, the Jal Shakti Ministry on Tuesday held the 10th edition of the District Collectors' Peyjal Samvad to deliberate on accelerating the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, an official said.
Ashok K.K. Meen, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS), led the discussions through video conferencing, bringing together Senior Officials, District Collectors/Deputy Commissioners and Mission Directors of State/UTs.
As five districts showcase best practices on sustainable rural water service delivery under JJM 2.0, Meena said that the Mission has entered a new phase where the focus has shifted from infrastructure creation to assured and sustainable rural piped water service delivery through community-led governance (Jan Bhagidari).
Emphasising the need to strengthen community ownership, Meena called upon States and districts to accelerate the certification of Har Ghar Jal (HGJ) Gram Panchayats (GPs), said an official statement.
He also urged districts to institutionalise Jal Arpan as an annual community-led event in every Gram Panchayat to celebrate and reinforce local ownership of rural water supply systems.
Kamal Kishore Soan, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, NJJM, emphasised the critical role of district administrations in translating the objectives of JJM 2.0 into measurable outcomes to ensure the availability of safe drinking water in rural areas.
He highlighted that sustained service delivery, source sustainability, community participation and technology-driven monitoring will be the defining pillars of the Mission going forward, said the statement.
He urged District Collectors to strengthen convergence across departments, regularly review implementation and promote innovation, along with proper mapping of HGJ assets to ensure long-term functionality of rural drinking water systems.
During the Peyjal Samvad, the important role of 16th Finance Commission Grants for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) in strengthening the sustainability of rural drinking water and sanitation services was highlighted through a presentation.
The progress and best practices of five selected districts, Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh), Haveri (Karnataka), Dumka (Jharkhand), South Goa (Goa) and Unakoti (Tripura), were also presented by the respective District Collectors/District Magistrates to facilitate cross-learning and support other districts in strengthening implementation under JJM 2.0, said the statement.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great to see Kinnaur and Dumka leading examples, but what about districts where water is still contaminated? Focus on sustainability and source management is good, but I worry that in many states, panchayats lack basic funds to maintain these systems. Hope the 16th FC grants change that 🙏
'Jal Arpan' as an annual event sounds promising. In my village, even today women walk 2 km for clean water. Infrastructure isn't enough if local committees aren't empowered. The shift from building to sustaining is welcome, but implementation on ground remains a challenge.
This approach is similar to what we see in community-managed water systems in rural parts of Canada. Technology-driven monitoring and local ownership are crucial. Glad to see India adopting these principles at scale through JJM 2.0.
District collectors sharing best practices is smart – every region has unique challenges. Kinnaur in hills, Dumka in tribal areas, unakoti in Northeast – each has different water sources and needs. Hope these learnings are actually replicated and not just presented for show. 🤞
Jal Jeevan Mission has done well so far but 2.0 needs stronger convergence with sanitation and health departments. Clean water alone doesn't prevent disease – we need comprehensive WaSH approach. 16th Finance Commission grants could be a real boost if used wisely.
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