The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, recently organised a Minister-level Policy Dialogue in New Delhi to strengthen sustainable Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of rural drinking water services under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The dialogue brought together Union and State Ministers, senior officials and sector experts to deliberate on long-term sustainability of rural piped water supply systems.

The discussions marked a shift in JJM’s focus from infrastructure creation to reliable, citizen-centric service delivery. Emphasis was placed on strong institutional frameworks, predictable financing, empowered Gram Panchayats and digital monitoring systems, with local governments positioned at the centre of long-term drinking water governance.

Addressing the dialogue, Rajiv Ranjan Singh underlined the need to prioritise O&M alongside asset creation, calling for Gram Panchayats to play a central role in service sustainability. He stressed integrating drinking water services into Gram Panchayat Development Plans, supported by transparent digital financial systems and Gram Sabha oversight.

C. R. Patil highlighted implementation discipline and financial prudence in the next phase of JJM. He noted that future fund releases would be linked to continuous water supply performance and urged States to rationalise project designs, strengthen water sources and enhance recharge and conservation efforts.

Minister of State V. Somanna emphasised the transition towards state-driven and IoT-enabled monitoring systems to improve accountability and long-term service delivery.

Setting the context, Ashok K.K. Meena, Secretary, DDWS, said that O&M is now central to water governance under JJM. He highlighted the need for legal recognition of Village Water & Sanitation Committees, asset ownership by Gram Panchayats, ring-fenced user charges and robust digital public infrastructure to ensure transparency and accountability.

The dialogue also reviewed national initiatives such as Jal Arpan, Jal Utsav, Jal Seva Aankalan, source sustainability measures and GIS-based asset mapping, alongside a 19-point advisory on O&M reforms. State-level discussions showcased best practices, including Karnataka’s Cabinet-approved O&M policy adopted by over 5,500 Gram Panchayats.

The policy dialogue reaffirmed that sustained rural drinking water services require community ownership, institutional convergence and clear accountability, with Gram Panchayats and local institutions leading day-to-day operations to ensure reliable and resilient water supply over the long term.