**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the strategy for empowering local governance in sustainable water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). It emphasizes community participation, the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions, and outlines certification processes and support mechanisms. The document details requirements for long-term operational sustainability of rural water supply works.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Empowerment of Local Governance:**
* Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), specifically Gram Panchayats or their sub-committees like Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSC) or Pani Samitis, are empowered to plan, implement, manage, operate, and maintain in-village water supply systems.
* This empowerment is in line with the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution of India, aiming to instill a sense of ownership among villagers.
* **Certification of 'Har Ghar Jal' Villages:**
* Upon provision of tap connections to all rural households, the implementing department issues a completion certificate to the Gram Panchayat.
* Villages are then marked as 'Har Ghar Jal' on the JJM-IMIS.
* Gram Panchayats must formally pass a resolution in their Gram Sabha certifying the village as 'Har Ghar Jal'.
* The JJM Dashboard reflects the completion certificate, Gram Sabha resolution, and a video of the Gram Sabha.
* **Role of Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs):**
* NGOs, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), and Voluntary Organizations (VOs) are empaneled as ISAs.
* ISAs handhold and train VWSCs/Pani Samitis in planning, community mobilization, and engagement.
* They disseminate information and encourage women's participation to ensure long-term maintenance of water supply infrastructure.
* **Community Contribution:**
* Community contribution of 5% of in-village infrastructure cost is mandated for North-Eastern States, difficult/hilly areas, forested, water-stressed villages, and villages with over 50% SC/ST population.
* A 10% community contribution is required for remaining villages.
* **Resource Dovetailing:**
* Village Action Plans (VAPs) must dovetail resources from various programs like Finance Commission grants, JJM, SBM(G), MGNREGS, MP/MLA Funds, District Mineral Development Fund, CSR Fund, and community contributions.
* The goal is to ensure the village community utilizes available resources for long-term water security.
* **Nal Jal Mitra Programme (NJMP):**
* This program aims to equip local village communities with skills for operation and maintenance of water supply schemes.
* It develops "Nal Jal Mitras" trained as skilled masons, plumbers, fitters, electricians, motor mechanics, and pump operators.
* These Mitras are to function as scheme operators and carry out minor and preventive maintenance.
* **Operational Sustainability:**
* States/UTs are advised to implement comprehensive O&M policies for long-term operational sustainability.
* Key features of these policies include:
* Handing over schemes to Panchayats/Pani Samitis.
* Establishing user charges.
* Ensuring sufficient financing for energy bills and other expenses.
* Facilitating skilling of local persons.
* Deploying local persons for O&M and water quality surveillance.
**Impact Analysis**
**Village Communities / Rural Households**
* **Impact:** Direct beneficiaries of improved and sustainable water supply. Increased ownership and participation in water management. Enhanced access to skilled personnel for maintenance.
* **Action Required:** Participate in planning, contribute to infrastructure costs as mandated, and engage with NJMP for skill development.
**Gram Panchayats / VWSCs / Pani Samitis**
* **Impact:** Empowered to plan, implement, manage, operate, and maintain water supply systems. Responsible for certifying 'Har Ghar Jal' status.
* **Action Required:** Undertake planning, implementation, and ongoing operation and maintenance of schemes. Formally certify 'Har Ghar Jal' status through Gram Sabha resolutions. Develop and implement O&M policies.
**NGOs / CBOs / SHGs / VOs (as ISAs)**
* **Impact:** Key role in providing support and training to local governance bodies. Facilitate community engagement and long-term maintenance.
* **Action Required:** Act as Implementation Support Agencies, handholding and training VWSCs/Pani Samitis, and encouraging community participation.
**States and UTs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring the implementation of the JJM framework, including the establishment of O&M policies and the engagement of ISAs.
* **Action Required:** Advised to put in place comprehensive O&M policies and ensure compliance with JJM guidelines for sustainable rural water supply.
**Ministry of Jal Shakti**
* **Impact:** Oversees the implementation of the JJM and related programs like NJMP.
* **Action Required:** Continue to facilitate the empowerment of local governance and ensure the long-term sustainability of water supply.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A national mission focused on providing tap water connections to all rural households and ensuring sustainable water supply.
Panchayati Raj Institutions: Local self-government bodies at the village level, empowered for planning, implementing, managing, operating, and maintaining water supply systems under JJM.
Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC) or Pani Samiti: Sub-committees or user groups within Gram Panchayats responsible for in-village water supply systems.
Nal Jal Mitra Programme (NJMP): A program launched to train local community members to operate and maintain piped water supply schemes.
73rd Amendment of Constitution of India: Constitutional amendment that underpins the empowerment of local governance structures like Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
EMPOWERING LOCAL GOVERNANCE FOR
SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY UNDER JJM
Posted On: 09 MAR 2026 4:34PM by PIB Delhi
In consonance with 73rd Amendment of Constitution of India and to instill the sense of ownership among
villagers, village level planning and community participation in all decisions pertaining to water supply
systems have been envisaged under JJM through Panchayati Raj Institutions. Accordingly, Gram
Panchayat or its sub-committee/ user group i.e. Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC) or Pani
Samiti has been empowered to plan, implement, manage, operate and maintain in-village water supply
system.
Moreover, under JJM, after making provision of tap connections to all rural households in a village, the
Department implementing the scheme provides completion certificate to Gram Panchayat and marks the
village as ‘Har Ghar Jal’ village on JJM-IMIS. Subsequently, Gram Panchayats in its Gram Sabha meeting
after reading out aloud the work completion report, formally passes resolution certifying itself as ‘Har
Ghar Jal’ village. The copy of certificate provided by implementing department, resolution passed by
Gram Sabha, and a small video capturing the Gram Sabha is reflected on JJM Dashboard and village is
marked certified in JJM-IMIS. As reported by States, out of around 2.74 lakh villages reported as ‘Har
Ghar Jal’, around 1.81 lakh villages have been certified by the respective Gram Sabhas.
Under JJM, NGOs/ Community Based Organizations (CBOs)/ Self Help Groups (SHGs)/ Voluntary
Organizations (VOs), etc. are also being empaneled as Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs) to
handhold and train VWSCs/ Pani Samitis in planning, mobilizing and engaging communities,
disseminating information and encouraging women participation for ensuring long-term maintenance of
the water supply infrastructure.
To bring in ‘sense of ownership and pride’ among rural communities, provision has been made for
community contribution to the extent of 5% of the in-village infrastructure cost in case of North-Eastern
States and difficult/ hilly areas, forested, water-stressed and villages with more than 50% SCs/ STs
population, and 10% in remaining villages.
While preparing VAPs, dovetailing of resources available at village level under various programmes like
Finance Commission tied grant for water & sanitation to RLBs/ PRIs, JJM, SBM(G), MGNREGS, MP/
MLA - Local Area Development Funds, District Mineral Development Fund (DMDF), CSR Fund,
community contributions, etc. is of paramount importance. In long-term, it is expected that village
community will dovetail and utilize all available resources for long-term water security of the village.
Further, for enabling the local village community to play their role shouldering the responsibility of
operation and maintenance, Nal Jal Mitra Programme (NJMP) has been launched in collaboration with
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to equip them with a comprehensive set of skills &
develop “Nal Jal Mitras”, so that they can function as scheme operators and are able to carry out minor
repairs and maintenance, including preventive maintenance, of the piped water supply scheme(s) in their
village as skilled masons, plumbers, fitters, electricians, motor mechanics, pump operators, etc.For long term operational sustainability of rural water supply works, States have been advised to put in
place a comprehensive O&M policy including features such as, handing over of schemes to Panchayats/
Pani Samitis, user charges, sufficient financing specially to cover expenses on account of energy bills,
skilling, and deployment of local persons for O&M and water quality surveillance activities, should be put
in place by States/ UTs.
The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA
in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
****
AMK
(Rajya Sabha USQ 1852)
(Release ID: 2237010) Visitor Counter : 108
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