New Delhi: The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, DDWS, on Thursday held the 5th edition of the District Collectors’ Peyjal Samvad to review progress and emerging priorities under the Jal Jeevan Mission, with a clear emphasis on strengthening rural water service delivery.

The virtual meeting, chaired by DDWS Secretary Ashok K K Meena, brought together more than 1,500 participants from across the country, including District Collectors, Deputy Commissioners, Mission Directors and State Mission Teams. Districts shared on-ground innovations ranging from community engagement models and Ranney Wells for bulk water supply to 24×7 water provisioning, planned IEC initiatives for Jan Bhagidari and improved operation and maintenance systems.

Addressing the participants, Meena appreciated the efforts of district teams and urged them to focus on service delivery and community partnership in the next phase of the mission. He highlighted the need to move beyond infrastructure creation and strengthen community ownership of rural drinking water systems. He pointed out that under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, the responsibility for operation and maintenance of drinking water systems lies with Gram Panchayats and must be implemented in letter and spirit.

Meena also noted growing community participation across states, including the involvement of migrant communities and inter-state workers in supporting water services. He said this approach would guide the programme going forward.

He outlined two priorities for districts. The first was Jal Arpan, the structured handover of rural water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and communities after a 15-day trial run. He suggested that Jal Arpan be observed annually as an Annual Maintenance Fortnight to ensure preventive maintenance and renewed community ownership of systems already handed over. The second was Jal Seva Aankalan, a systematic self-assessment of functionality in villages declared 100 per cent Har Ghar Jal, aimed at sustaining service quality.

Deputy Secretary, NJJM, Ankita Chakraborty welcomed the participants and said the deliberations would focus on Jal Seva Aankalan, launched on 30 December 2025 by the Minister of Jal Shakti. She made a detailed presentation on the Gram Panchayat-led functionality assessment tool under the mission, explaining that it enables Panchayats to assess drinking water services on three parameters, regularity of supply, adequacy of availability and water quality.

She explained the five-step process of Jal Seva Aankalan, which includes VWSC-led discussions, Gram Sabha endorsement, data entry on the JJM IMIS Panchayat Dashboard, public visibility of findings through the Nari Panchayat App with a 30-day feedback window, and consolidated reporting at district and state levels for planning and corrective action.

Chakraborty said the current cycle applies to Gram Panchayats declared Har Ghar Jal on or before 31 December 2020, covering around 1.17 lakh Panchayats. These Panchayats have at least one year of operational experience, ensuring credible assessments. She added that the framework includes 23 assessment questions covering infrastructure, service-level gaps, source sustainability and O&M preparedness, and the first cycle must be completed by 26 January 2026.

Several districts shared their experiences during the session. Niuland in Nagaland highlighted how piped water schemes, supported by WATSAN committees, reduced the burden on women and girls who earlier walked long distances for water. Community contributions, monthly user charges and active involvement of youth and women were cited as key factors in improving operation and maintenance.

Palwal in Haryana showcased the use of Ranney Wells technology for bulk water supply, which has helped address fluoride contamination while reducing electricity consumption and land requirements.

Sarangarh-Bilaigarh in Chhattisgarh highlighted the role of sustained IEC campaigns, Ratri Chaupals for grievance redressal, Jal Bahini members for regular water quality testing, and Self-Help Groups leading groundwater conservation through convergence with SBM-G and MGNREGA.

Mahabubnagar in Telangana presented its experience under Mission Bhagiratha, detailing 24×7 water supply through pumping and gravity-based systems, third-party inspections, digital monitoring of 100 LPCD using a colour-coded performance system, and community-led monitoring. The district reported that 90 per cent of its villages are in the green category.

In his concluding remarks, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, NJJM, K K Soan said that presentations and learnings from each Peyjal Samvad are being documented in the monthly newsletter Jal Jeevan Samvad to enable cross-learning among districts. He said the mission has entered a phase where service delivery is the priority, and Jal Seva Aankalan will provide realistic insights from the ground to support timely corrective measures.

The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Yogendra Kumar Singh, Director, NJJM, who reiterated DDWS’s commitment to supporting states and districts in ensuring safe drinking water for every rural household.

BI Bureau