NEW DELHI, Nov 14: The first regional conference on Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 concluded in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, on Friday, with discussions centred on ensuring sustainable drinking water services, strengthening community ownership and empowering Gram Panchayats to manage rural water supply infrastructure.
The concluding day of the two-day conference featured field visits by five teams headed by senior government officials. The teams inspected drinking water infrastructure in different villages and participated in Jal Arpan Diwas celebrations to highlight the importance of community involvement in maintaining rural water facilities.
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) Secretary Ashok K K Meena, during his visit to Palamaneri village, said Jal Arpan should not be treated as a one-time ceremonial transfer of water infrastructure. Instead, it should mark the beginning of a long-term partnership involving state governments, implementing agencies and Gram Panchayats.
He highlighted that the second phase of the Jal Jeevan Mission seeks to expand its focus beyond providing household tap connections to ensuring consistent access to safe and reliable drinking water. The broader objective, he said, is to work towards supplying potable water directly to households through taps on a 24-hour basis.
Meena also underlined the importance of providing continuous technical assistance and building the institutional capacity of local governing bodies. He called for training elected representatives and developing learning materials suited to the specific requirements and circumstances of different regions.
Emphasising water conservation, the secretary encouraged states to make effective use of the Decision Support System (DSS) for planning rainwater harvesting initiatives and groundwater recharge activities. Such measures, he noted, would contribute towards improving the long-term availability of drinking water sources.
Additional Secretary and National Jal Jeevan Mission Director Kamal Kishore Soan stressed the need to ensure that the reforms introduced under JJM 2.0 translate into measurable improvements at the grassroots level. He also called for stronger coordination between departments responsible for implementing various components of the mission.
During his visit to a village, Soan drank water directly from a household tap, demonstrating confidence in the quality of drinking water being supplied through the programme.
DDWS Joint Secretary D Senthil Pandian said that clear action points, designated responsibilities and implementation timelines had been established following the departmental summit organised in September 2026.
He explained that consultations had taken place with the Ministries of Panchayati Raj, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Tribal Affairs, and Rural Development to improve coordination in several key areas.
These discussions focused on bringing together financial resources, strengthening skill development, expanding drinking water coverage in tribal areas and ensuring the sustainability of water sources.
Pandian urged participating states to follow the agreed reform schedules and complete the necessary preparations ahead of the proposed national-level review scheduled for February 2027.
As part of the field programme, the five teams inspected drinking water facilities in Vadugakudi, Thiruchinampoondi, Thindukarai, Nochiyam and Keelaanbil. They subsequently attended Jal Arpan Diwas celebrations in Palamaneri, Ambedkar Nagar, Theeranmanagar, Ayyampalayam and Puthu Uthamanur.
The two-day regional conference brought together representatives from seven southern states and Union territories to assess the progress of JJM 2.0 and discuss measures for improving rural drinking water delivery.
The deliberations placed particular emphasis on strengthening coordination among government departments, developing sustainable funding mechanisms for the operation and maintenance of water infrastructure, and giving Gram Panchayats a greater role in local water governance.
The conference concluded with a renewed focus on ensuring that rural drinking water infrastructure remains functional over the long term, supported by capable local institutions, responsible community participation and sustainable management of available water resources.