**Executive Summary**
On March 24, 2026, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti signed reform-linked Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0. The agreements establish a structured framework for sustainable, transparent, and community-led rural drinking water service delivery. Key objectives include addressing infrastructure gaps, ensuring universal household tap coverage, and institutionalizing community-managed operation and maintenance systems to achieve the vision of "Har Ghar Jal."
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 Objectives**
* Focuses on addressing gaps in existing infrastructure and providing tap water connections to remaining rural households.
* Prioritizes the delivery of adequate quantity and prescribed quality of water on a regular basis.
* Emphasizes water use efficiency through pilot initiatives for agriculture, including pipeline-based supply and drip irrigation.
* Promotes source sustainability through "Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari" (JSJB) for water conservation and groundwater recharge.
**Governance and Institutional Reforms**
* Requirement for the formal handover of completed water schemes to communities with proper documentation.
* Strengthening of community-led water management systems to ensure effective Operation and Maintenance (O&M).
* Implementation of comprehensive O&M policies and coordinated efforts to ensure long-term water security.
* Mandatory regular review meetings with district collectors and officials to accelerate implementation and fund utilization.
**Digital Integration and Citizen Services**
* Registration of water supply assets on the "Sujal Bharat" platform using unique "Sujal Gram IDs" for enhanced transparency.
* Strengthening of citizen-centric services through the Basudha helpline, WhatsApp interfaces, and grievance redressal mechanisms.
* Empowerment of women through specialized training in water quality testing using Field Test Kits.
* Promotion of "Jan Bhagidari" (community participation) via Village Water and Sanitation Committees.
**Impact Analysis**
**Rural Households**
**Impact**
Residents will gain reliable access to safe and protected drinking water, reducing the physical burden of fetching water (particularly for women) and improving overall public health and quality of life.
**Action Required**
Participate in community-led water management and join Village Water and Sanitation Committees to oversee local water systems.
**State Governments (Andhra Pradesh and Odisha)**
**Impact**
States are committed to a structured reform framework and digital integration, requiring higher levels of accountability and transparency in service delivery.
**Action Required**
Accelerate project implementation within stipulated timelines, ensure timely utilization of Union funds, and register all assets on digital platforms.
**Union Ministry of Jal Shakti**
**Impact**
The Ministry advances the national vision of "Viksit Bharat @2047" through a strengthened Centre-State partnership for water governance.
**Action Required**
Provide continued financial and technical support to states and monitor progress through the established reform-linked framework.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0: The primary national mission under which reform-linked MoUs are signed to ensure sustainable, community-led rural drinking water service delivery.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Union Ministry responsible for overseeing the nationwide rollout of water governance reforms and the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Andhra Pradesh and Odisha: The specific Indian states that entered into MoUs with the Union Government to implement structured water supply reform frameworks.
Har Ghar Jal: The national goal and vision aimed at providing functional tap water connections to every rural household.
Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB): A key initiative focused on source sustainability, water conservation, and community participation in water management.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Reform Linked MoUs signed with Andhra
Pradesh and Odisha under Jal Jeevan Mission
2.0
Centre-States partnership advances reforms for sustainable
rural water supply delivery for accountable and community-
driven water governance
Posted On: 24 MAR 2026 4:59PM by PIB Delhi
Continuing the nationwide rollout of reform linked implementation under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0; the
States of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha today signed MoUs with the Union Government, committing to a
structured reform framework for sustainable, transparent and community-led rural drinking water service
delivery.
In the presence of the Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, who attended the meetings physically
at DDWS, Ministry of Jal Shakti, along with other senior officials.
The MoU with Andhra Pradesh was signed in the presence in of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh,
Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu, and Shri. K. Pawan Kalyan, Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and
Minister for Panchayat Raj, Rural Development, Environment, Forest, and Science & Technology joined
the event virtually along with senior officials from the state.For Andhra Pradesh, the MoUs were signed and exchanged between Smt. Swati Meena Naik, Joint
Secretary (Water), DDWS, and Shri Shashi Bhushan Kumar, Special Chief Secretary to Government of
Andhra Pradesh.
Marking a key step in Centre-State collaboration, the MoU with the State of Odisha was formally signed
at 12.30 p.m. in the virtual presence of Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Minister of
Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water, Govt. of Odisha, Shri Rabi Narayan Naik, Chief
Secretary, Odisha, Smt. Anu Garg, Development Commissioner cum Addl. Chief Secretary, Shri
Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Sri Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra, Finance Secretary and other senior officials from
the State.
The MoU was signed between Smt. Swati Meena Naik, Joint Secretary (Water), DDWS, and Shri Girish
S.N, Commissioner cum Secretary, PR&DW Dept, and exchanged by Shri Visal Gagan, Principal
Residence Commissioner, Government of Odisha.Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil highlighted that while crores of
rural households have already been provided tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the
focus under JJM 2.0 is on addressing gaps in existing infrastructure, covering the remaining households,
and ensuring sustainable and reliable water supply systems. He emphasised the importance of formal
handover of completed schemes to communities through proper documentation and strengthening
community-led water management systems to ensure effective operation and maintenance. He further
stressed the need to empower women through training in water quality testing using Field Test Kits, noting
that the mission has already freed nearly 9 crore women from the burden of fetching water, marking a
significant social transformation. Expressing confidence in the leadership of the State, he stated that
Andhra Pradesh is well-positioned to achieve the vision of Har Ghar Jal and contribute to Viksit Bharat
2047. He also highlighted the Prime Minister’s emphasis on water use efficiency, including pilot
initiatives for agriculture through pipeline-based supply and promotion of drip irrigation. He emphasised
source sustainability through Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB), promoting water conservation, ground
water recharge and community participation. He further urged the State to convene regular review
meetings with district collectors and officials to accelerate implementation and ensure timely utilisation of
funds, while assuring full support from the Government of India for the successful implementation of the
mission.
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu, along with the Deputy Chief Minister,
reaffirmed the State Government’s strong commitment to effective implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission
2.0. Expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister for extending the Mission timeline, they stated that this
decision has enabled the State to move decisively towards universal household tap water coverage.
Describing the Mission as a holistic initiative to ensure safe and protected drinking water for every
household, the State leadership highlighted its transformative impact on public health and quality of life.
They assured that Andhra Pradesh is now fully prepared to accelerate implementation and complete the
mission within stipulated timelines. Reiterating the State’s focus on reliable, sustainable and assured
drinking water services, with emphasis on service delivery, sustainability and community participation,
they sought continued support from the Government of India to address remaining gaps. The Chief
Minister further emphasised that providing tap water to every household remains a top development
priority of the State, and invited the Union leadership to visit Andhra Pradesh to witness progress and
inaugurate upcoming drinking water and irrigation projects, including those planned ahead of the
Godavari Pushkaralu.Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, said that the MoU signing between the Government
of India and the Government of Odisha is a significant step towards achieving the goal of Har Ghar Jal
and building a Viksit Bharat, and appreciated the continued support of the Government of India in
extending the mission under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 with a focus on universal coverage and sustainable
service delivery and stated that the State is implementing JJM 2.0 with emphasis on community
participation, financial sustainability, operation and maintenance and effective monitoring, supported by a
comprehensive O&M policy and coordinated implementation efforts.
He further highlighted that, steps are being taken for asset strengthening and digital integration, with
registering water supply assets on the Sujal Bharat platform and assigned unique Sujal Gram IDs to
enhance monitoring, transparency and accountability. He mentioned that the State is ensuring
strengthening citizen-centric services through the Basudha helpline and WhatsApp interface, and
promoting Jan Bhagidari through Village Water and Sanitation Committees.
The Union Minister Shri C.R. Patil appreciated Odisha for strengthening digital systems to improve
monitoring and accountability of water supply schemes, the significant progress achieved under the Jal
Shakti Abhiyan, particularly in water conservation and rejuvenation of water structures and the State’s
citizen-centric initiatives such as helplines, grievance redressal mechanisms and strengthened Village
Water and Sanitation Committees that promote Jan Bhagidari.
The reform-linked MoU seeks to ensure that every rural household has access to drinking water supply in
adequate quantity and of prescribed quality on a regular basis, through strengthened community
participation (Jan Bhagidari) and bringing in structural reforms for sustainable operation and maintenance
of rural water supply systems, thereby enhancing the living standards of rural communities contributing to
long-term water security aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
****
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