Lok Sabha Question No. 6330 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-02
Subject: Framing of Operation and Maintenance Policies under JJM
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6330

ANSWERED ON 02.04.2026

## FRAMING OF OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE POLICIES UNDER JJM

## 6330. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)   the number of States/Union Territories that have framed Operation and Maintenance (O&M) policies under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM);
- (b)  whether the Government is providing technical guidance or handholding support to States for framing such policies and ensuring compliance and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken to establish strong institutional systems, predictable financing, empowered local governments and robust digital monitoring mechanisms to ensure sustained provision of safe drinking  water  along  with  the  number  of  States  that  have  adopted  the  19-point  advisory  on O&M reforms;
- (d)  the measures taken to strengthen Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) and to place Gram Panchayats and community institutions at the centre of long-term service delivery;
- (e) the details of initiatives such as Jal Arpan, Sujal Gaon IDs, Jal Seva Ankalan and other similar initiatives aimed at institutionalising sustainable O&M practices; and
- (f) the details of the platforms created to document and disseminate best practices across States?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a) to (c) To enable every rural household in the country to have assured potable water, in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis, through tap water connection, since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with states, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal.

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 .

(d)  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 longterm 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.

(e) 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.

(f) 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.

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