Sujal Gram Samvad Emphasises Community Ownership Of Rural Water

The Samvad was chaired by the Secretary of DDWS, with the Joint Secretary, National Jal Jeevan Mission, and senior officials in attendance. It served as a platform to learn from the Gram Panchayat experience and strengthen community governance. Organisers urged Panchayats and local bodies to assume ownership of operation and maintenance while district administrations provide technical support.

Contributions from the six Gram Panchayats illustrated diverse approaches. In Khandwa Patta, Rajasthan, committees reported household tap connections, female participation in VWSCs, community training for water quality testing and efforts to repair leakages under the state Jal Sanchay campaign. In Khamrang, Mizoram, representatives described a WhatsApp network for scheduling and maintenance, routine chlorination and community monitoring and noted the district has achieved 100 per cent household tap water coverage. In Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, the VWSC collects Rs 20 monthly for repairs and authorities cited spring and solar projects to secure supplies in difficult terrain.

In Karnataka, beneficiaries in Inahalli described a new borewell, overhead storage and pipeline works and a Rs 70 user contribution that supports operation and maintenance, and informed that about 260 villages enjoy round the clock supply with a target to scale to 1,000 villages. In Punjab and Uttar Pradesh the dialogues reflected improved water quality, routine Gram Panchayat reviews and river rejuvenation initiatives. The session concluded with senior officials commending community engagement and urging replication of transparent, accountable models at Gram Panchayat level.