Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Jal Shakti addresses concerns raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1872 regarding substandard work quality under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The response outlines the mission's objectives, the roles of states and the central government, quality assessment mechanisms, monitoring systems, and steps taken to ensure effective implementation and prevent mismanagement. The response refers to data from the Functionality Assessment 2022.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **JJM Implementation and Roles:**
* The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) "Har Ghar Jal" aims to provide potable water to every rural household through functional tap water connections since August 2019.
* States plan, design, approve, and implement drinking water supply schemes, with the Government of India providing technical and financial assistance.
* Details of individual projects, including tendering and implementing agencies, are maintained at the State/UT level, not at the Government of India level.
* Grievances and complaints regarding work quality, payments, etc., are handled and resolved at the State/UT level. The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation forwards any such representations received to the relevant State Government.
* **Quality Assessment and Findings:**
* The Department assesses the functionality of household tap water connections through a third-party agency using statistical sampling.
* The Functionality Assessment 2022 found that 86% of households had working tap connections.
* Of these, 85% received adequate water quantity, 80% received water regularly, and 87% received water meeting prescribed quality standards.
* The Functionality Assessment 2022 report is publicly available.
* **Monitoring Mechanisms:**
* A comprehensive multi-level monitoring system is in place, linking AADHAR for targeted delivery and monitoring outcomes.
* Monitoring includes geotagging of assets, third-party inspections before payments, and sensor-based IoT solutions for water supply measurement.
* **Steps for Effective Implementation:**
* Joint discussions and finalization of saturation plans and Annual Action Plans (AAP) with States/UTs.
* Regular implementation reviews, workshops, conferences, and webinars for capacity building and knowledge sharing.
* Field visits by multidisciplinary teams to provide technical support.
* Operational Guidelines, Margdarshika for Gram Panchayats/VWSCs, and Guidelines on piped water supply in anganwadi centres, ashramshalas and schools have been shared with States/UTs.
* Online monitoring through JJM-Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) and JJM-Dashboard, along with transparent online financial management via the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
Impact Analysis:
* **States/Union Territories:**
* Impact: Responsible for planning, designing, approving, and implementing drinking water supply schemes, as well as addressing grievances. Expected to utilize shared guidelines and online monitoring systems.
* Action Required: Implement JJM according to guidelines, address complaints, and utilize online monitoring tools.
* **Rural Households:**
* Impact: Intended beneficiaries of potable water through functional tap connections.
* Action Required: No direct action required, but should report any issues related to water supply quality or functionality to the appropriate State/UT authorities.
* **Government of India (Ministry of Jal Shakti):**
* Impact: Responsible for providing technical and financial assistance to States/UTs, overall monitoring of the JJM implementation, and undertaking functionality assessments.
* Action Required: Continue to provide support to States/UTs, conduct regular assessments, and maintain online monitoring systems.
* **Third-Party Agencies:**
* Impact: Conduct assessments of the functionality of household tap water connections.
* Action Required: Perform assessments based on standard statistical sampling and provide accurate reports to the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
* **Gram Panchayats / VWSCs (Village Water and Sanitation Committees):**
* Impact: Important for providing safe drinking water in rural households.
* Action Required: Use the provided "Margdarshika" guidelines for effective planning and implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A Government of India initiative to provide potable water to every rural household through functional tap water connections.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources.
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation: A department under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, responsible for drinking water and sanitation programs.
SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE: Member of Parliament who raised a question in Lok Sabha regarding the quality of work under JJM.
Functionality Assessment 2022: An assessment conducted by a third-party agency to evaluate the functionality of household tap water connections provided under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Har Ghar Jal: The motto of Jal Jeevan Mission.
Public Financial Management System (PFMS): A platform used for online financial management and transparency in the Jal Jeevan Mission.
States/Union Territories (UTs): The entities responsible for planning, designing, approving, and implementing drinking water supply schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1872
ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025
SUBSTANDARD QUALITY OF WORK UNDER JJM
1872. SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE:
PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:
DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:
SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:
SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of multiple complaints concerning substandard quality of
work under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and if reports in social and mass media reflect public
dissatisfaction regarding the implementation of the mission;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the number and nature of complaints received and the
action taken to address these concerns;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any quality assessments or audits of JJM projects
and if so, the details thereof indicating the key findings from such evaluations;
(d) the monitoring mechanisms established to ensure quality control, transparency and
accountability in executing JJM projects across States; and
(e) the steps taken/being taken to ensure that the scheme effectively delivers adequate drinking
water to rural households and to prevent corruption, mismanagement and poor execution of works
under JJM?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) & (b) Since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with States is implementing Jal
Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal to make provision of potable water to every rural household of
the country, through functional tap water connection.
Drinking Water being a State subject, it is States, who plan, design, approve and implement
drinking water supply schemes. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States by
providing technical and financial assistance. As such details of individual projects/ schemes which
inter alia including tendering, agencies involved for implementation of rural water supply projects
Page 1 of 2are not maintained at the Government of India level. Further, grievances/ complaints etc. inter alia
including quality of work, payment of bills, work award, etc. are handled and disposed at State/ UT
level. Any such matter/ representation thus received in this Department so far, have been
forwarded to the State Government for taking requisite necessary action.
(c) Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation undertakes assessment of the functionality of
household tap water connections provided under the Mission, through an independent third-party
agency, based on standard statistical sampling. During the Functionality Assessment 2022, it was
found that 86% of households (HHs) had working tap connections. Out of these, 85% were getting
water in adequate quantity, 80% were getting water regularly as per the schedule of water supply
for their piped water supply scheme, and 87% of households were receiving water as per the
prescribed water quality standards. A copy of last Functionality Assessment 2022 is in public
domain and can be accessed at https://jaljeevanmission.gov.in/functionality-reports.
(d) 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 etc.
(e) A number of steps have been taken to plan and implement JJM in the whole country, with
speed, inter alia, including joint discussions and finalization of saturation plans and annual action
plans (AAP) of States/ UTs, regular review of implementation, workshops/ conferences/ webinars
for capacity building, training, knowledge sharing, field visits by multi-disciplinary team to
provide technical support, etc. A detailed Operational Guideline for the implementation of JJM;
Margdarshika for Gram Panchayats & VWSCs to provide safe drinking water in rural households
and Guidelines on a special campaign to provide piped water supply in anganwadi centres,
ashramshalas and schools have been shared with States/ UTs to facilitate effective planning and
implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission. For online monitoring, JJM–Integrated Management
Information System (IMIS) and JJM–Dashboard has been put in place. Provision has also been
made for transparent online financial management through Public Financial Management System
(PFMS).
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