**Executive Summary**
The document outlines the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and the framing of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) policies to ensure long-term sustainability of rural water supply. It highlights the extension of the JJM period to December 2028 under JJM 2.0 and details the transition toward community-managed systems supported by digital monitoring frameworks. Key action items include the adoption of a 19-component O&M framework by States and the deployment of skilled local personnel through the Nal Jal Mitra Programme.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanisms**
* Implementation of a multi-level monitoring system involving AADHAR-linked delivery, geo-tagging of assets, and third-party inspections before payments.
* Utilization of sensor-based IoT solutions on a pilot basis for measuring water supply in villages.
* Establishment of Village and District Dashboards linked to the eGramswaraj portal to improve transparency and efficiency.
**O&M Policy and Sustainability**
* Introduction of a draft O&M framework with 19 major components, including user charges, sufficient financing for energy bills, and water quality surveillance.
* Sharing of a diagnostic matrix with States to assess their readiness to manage rural Piped Water Supply (PWS) systems.
* Notification of O&M policies by 23 States/UTs, with five states already aligning their policies with the recommended 19 components.
**Community Empowerment and Capacity Building**
* Empowerment of Gram Panchayats and Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSC) to plan, implement, and maintain in-village water systems.
* Empanelment of NGOs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) as Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs) to train local committees and encourage women's participation.
* Launch of the Nal Jal Mitra Programme (NJMP) to train local villagers as skilled masons, plumbers, and electricians for minor repairs and preventive maintenance.
**Digital Initiatives and Knowledge Sharing**
* Institution of "Sujalam Bharat," a national digital framework assigning unique IDs to villages and mapping water systems from source to tap.
* Introduction of "Jal Arpan," mandating a 15-day trial run involving local committees to ensure smooth handover of water systems.
* Establishment of the "Rural WASH Partners’ Forum" (RWPF) and the "Jal Jeevan Samvad" monthly magazine for cross-learning and documenting best practices.
**Impact Analysis**
**States and Union Territories**
**Impact**
States are responsible for the legislative and financial notification of O&M policies and must ensure their systems are sustainable against anticipated operational incidents.
**Action Required**
Must notify O&M policies in line with the 19-component framework and utilize the diagnostic matrix to assess system readiness.
**Gram Panchayats / VWSCs / Pani Samitis**
**Impact**
These bodies are now the primary owners and operators of in-village water supply systems, shifting management responsibility to the local level.
**Action Required**
Undertake planning, management, and maintenance of water systems; participate in 15-day trial runs under Jal Arpan; and manage user charges and energy bills.
**Local Village Community (Nal Jal Mitras)**
**Impact**
Villagers gain access to specialized skill development, creating a local workforce capable of maintaining infrastructure.
**Action Required**
Undergo training through the Nal Jal Mitra Programme to function as scheme operators and carry out technical repairs.
**Implementation Support Agencies (NGOs/SHGs/CBOs)**
**Impact**
These organizations act as the bridge between the government and the community, facilitating training and mobilization.
**Action Required**
Handhold and train VWSCs/Pani Samitis in planning and information dissemination, specifically focusing on encouraging women’s participation.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A flagship initiative of the Government of India, including its extension JJM 2.0, aimed at providing assured potable tap water to every rural household.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The primary central ministry responsible for implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission and formulating the national policy framework for Operation and Maintenance (O&M).
Nal Jal Mitra Programme (NJMP): A skilling initiative launched to equip local villagers with technical skills to repair and maintain piped water supply schemes.
Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC): Also known as Pani Samitis, these local sub-committees are empowered to plan, implement, and manage in-village water supply systems and long-term sustainability.
73rd Amendment of the Constitution of India: The constitutional basis for empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions to manage local water supply systems and ensure community ownership.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
FRAMING OF OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
POLICIES UNDER JJM
Posted On: 02 APR 2026 4:26PM by PIB Delhi
To enable every rural household in the country to have assured potable water, since August 2019,
Government of India in partnership with states, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal.
This initiative facilitates adequate quantity of prescribed quality water on regular and long-term basis,
through tap water connection.
To ensure universal coverage through tap water connection, the Department has evolved a comprehensive
multi-level and multi-format system of monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of programme,
linking AADHAR of the head of household for targeted delivery and monitoring of specific outcomes,
subject to statutory provisions, including geo-tagging of assets created, third-party inspections before
making payments, measurement and monitoring of water supply in villages through sensor-based IoT
solution on pilot basis, etc.
In addition, to expedite the implementation and strengthening the existing monitoring mechanisms under
Jal Jeevan Mission aiming at improving efficiency and effectiveness, steps like Village/ District
Dashboards and linking Village Level Dashboards to eGramswaraj portal, District Collectors’ Peyjal
Samvad, Institutionalization of Role of National WASH Experts (NWEs) through IMIS module, Role of
Third Party Inspection Agencies (TPIAs), strengthened collaboration with line Ministries, Decision
Support System for strengthening Source Sustainability, Handbook on Community Managed Piped Water
Systems, Unique ID for integrated Piped Water System, etc. have recently been taken up under JJM.
For long term sustainability, a comprehensive O&M policy including features such as, handing over of
schemes to Panchayats/ VWSC, 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, is being put in place by States/ UTs.
For extending technical assistance, a draft framework for the comprehensive O&M Policy, consisting of
19 major components, has been shared with the States. Further, a diagnostic matrix has also been shared
with States to assess readiness of the State/ UT to effectively/ efficiently operate, manage and sustain the
rural PWSs against different anticipated incidents/ parameters of operation and maintenance phase. In
addition, Department is also providing technical support to states to build capacity for policy formulation
inter alia including organizing workshops, training programs, and seminars to educate state officials on
best practices, financial management, and community engagement strategies in O&M.
So far, 23 States/ UTs (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, A&N Islands,
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, DNH&DD, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Uttarakhand)
have reported notification of their O&M Policy. The States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand,
Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu reported to have notified their O&M policy in line with the 19 components.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.
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.
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), VBG-RAM-G, MP/
MLA - Local Area Development Funds, District Mineral Development Fund (DMDF), CSR Fund,
community contributions, etc. is of paramount importance.
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.
Government has approved extension of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) period up to December 2028 with
enhanced outlay and restructured implementation focusing on structural reforms in rural drinking water
supply sector under JJM 2.0. Accordingly, a uniform national digital framework, namely Sujalam Bharat
has been instituted under which villages are assigned a unique Sujal Gaon / Service Area ID, digitally
mapping the complete drinking water supply system from source to tap. To enhance transparency and
promote Jan Bhagidari for sustainable and continuous service delivery, standardized Handbook on
Community-Managed Piped Water Systems under Jal Arpan mandating a 15-day trial run involving GPs
and VWSC members to ensure smooth handover and sustainable operations; district and Gram Panchayat
dashboards have been launched and integrated with the Meri Panchayat platform for citizen feedback and
grievance redressal and Jal Seva Ankalan has been initiated as a Gram Panchayat-led digital drinking
water service functionality assessment tool.
To enable cross-learning amongst diverse stakeholders, Jal Jeevan Samvad has been initiated in the form
of monthly magazine and knowledge platform covering JJM progress, ground stories/ best practices, focus
articles by sector experts, updates on JJM activities, etc. Further, to build partnerships and work with
various stakeholder institutions/ individuals, Rural WASH Partners’ Forum (RWPF) has also been
established by the Department as a unified engagement platform for all development and sector partners
working in the rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for driving innovation, sharing thoughts,
proposing policy initiatives, sharing & documenting best practices, suggesting implementation course
correction, and facilitating progress under the Missions.
The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA
in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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