The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, on Tuesday organised the 11th edition of the District Collectors’ Peyjal Samvad, bringing together senior officials and district authorities to review the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 and share innovative practices for ensuring sustainable rural drinking water services.
The virtual meeting was chaired by DDWS Secretary Ashok K.K. Meena, with Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Jal Jeevan Mission, Kamal Kishore Soan, and senior officials from the department and State Water and Sanitation Missions also participating.
Meena emphasised the role of District Water and Sanitation Missions (DWSMs) as the primary institutional mechanism for implementing rural water supply programmes. He urged districts to hold regular monthly meetings and upload their proceedings on the JJM Integrated Management Information System portal.
He also called for greater use of the Decision Support System for scientific assessment of water-source sustainability and stressed the need to intensify the “Catch the Rain – Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari” campaign during the monsoon. Gram Panchayats, Village Water and Sanitation Committees, self-help groups, educational institutions and community organisations were encouraged to participate in rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and water conservation activities.
The Secretary also called on districts to expedite Jal Arpan ceremonies for completed schemes after mandatory trial runs and commissioning, enabling the formal handover of assets to Gram Panchayats.
According to the department, more than two lakh villages and over one lakh Gram Panchayats have achieved Har Ghar Jal certification. Meena stressed that certification should now translate into sustained, community-led management of rural water supply systems.
He further underlined the importance of convergence with programmes such as VB-G RAM G for source sustainability and greywater management, effective utilisation of 16th Finance Commission tied grants for water and sanitation, and collection of user charges at the Gram Panchayat level to support operation and maintenance of village water supply infrastructure.
Focus on women-led water management
The DDWS also presented the implementation roadmap for “Sujalam Shakti”, an initiative focused on establishing women-led village support groups to strengthen water quality monitoring, community participation and source sustainability.
The meeting featured presentations by district authorities from Uttara Kannada in Karnataka, Khowai in Tripura, Didwana Kuchaman in Rajasthan and Chatra in Jharkhand, highlighting approaches that could be replicated by other districts.
Uttara Kannada showcased its efforts to develop sustainable water supply systems in a geographically diverse region comprising coastal, forest and hilly areas. The district has mapped lakes, open wells and borewells and prepared sustainability plans using geospatial data, groundwater assessments and local resource mapping. It has also promoted convergence with VB-G RAM G, while regular Village Water and Sanitation Committee meetings, joint inspections and community participation have strengthened local accountability.
Khowai in Tripura presented an integrated model involving regular DWSM and DISHA meetings, geo-tagged monitoring, third-party quality audits and structured handover of schemes through Jal Arpan. The district has used 15th Finance Commission grants and MPLADS funds to improve drinking water access in remote tribal habitations.
The district has also undertaken extensive information, education and communication activities involving schools, self-help groups and line departments. School Water Clubs enable SHG women to train students in water quality testing using Field Testing Kits. More than 6,000 SHG women are engaged in community mobilisation, while source sustainability measures include catchment protection, afforestation, groundwater recharge and greywater management. All 860 Anganwadi Centres have also been equipped with rainwater harvesting structures.
Tackling water quality challenges
Didwana Kuchaman in Rajasthan highlighted measures to address long-standing problems associated with fluoride- and salinity-affected groundwater. The district has expanded surface water-based regional water supply systems and rural tap water coverage to improve access to safe drinking water.
The district has also promoted traditional water conservation and groundwater recharge through convergence with MGNREGA and other programmes. These measures include construction and rejuvenation of tankas, restoration of water bodies and rainwater harvesting in water-scarce areas.
A SCADA-enabled monitoring system has also been introduced to track reservoirs, water treatment facilities, pump houses and village-level distribution networks in real time.
Chatra model focuses on grievance redressal
Chatra in Jharkhand presented a convergence-based model centred on its “Peyjal Samasya Nivaaran Pakhwada”, a special campaign to identify and resolve drinking water problems through coordinated field action involving district authorities, technical departments, Panchayati Raj Institutions and local communities.
The initiative has helped address grievances relating to hand pumps, village water supply schemes, water shortages and source sustainability while strengthening community ownership.
The district also uses IoT-enabled remote monitoring of water supply schemes and has trained local youth as pump operators and plumbers. Women-led water quality surveillance is being carried out through Jalsahiya cadres.
Convergence with MGNREGA and other funding sources has supported the construction of more than 5,300 soak pits and rainwater harvesting structures, besides rejuvenation of ponds and reservoirs. IEC activities, Jal Shakti Samvads, Jal Yatras and other community initiatives are being used to promote public participation and sustainability.
In his concluding remarks, Soan highlighted the importance of regular DWSM meetings, district dashboards and District Technical Units in improving planning, monitoring and service delivery. He urged district administrations to adopt data-driven decision-making and strengthen the functioning of DTUs.
He also called for capacity building through convergence with Rural Self Employment Training Institutes, State Rural Livelihood Missions and skill development programmes, while stressing the need to train women under Sujalam Shakti and build local technical capacities.
The practices showcased by the four districts demonstrated the diverse approaches being adopted across the country to address local challenges, improve drinking water services and strengthen community-led sustainability under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
