The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) recently conducted the third District Collectors’ Peyjal Samvad, a national platform designed to strengthen rural water governance and improve service delivery under Jal Jeevan Mission. With the theme ‘From Grassroot to Forefront’, the virtual meeting focused on real-time service delivery, scheme functionality, source sustainability, water quality and last-mile governance.

Chaired by Secretary DDWS Shri Ashok K.K. Meena, the session underscored that while asset creation has progressed substantially, the real test lies in ensuring daily supply of quality water. Gram Panchayats, as institutions closest to communities, were highlighted as central to operations and maintenance. Officials also shared insights from over 530 district-level meetings and the growing use of Panchayat Dashboards, which have enabled more than 85,000 Panchayats to track household coverage, scheme performance and water quality results.

A detailed presentation on the Commissioning and Handing Over Protocol outlined a four-phase framework covering documentation, system testing, trial operations and final certification, aimed at improving transparency and long-term sustainability. Districts from Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Ladakh and Meghalaya presented local innovations, including solar-powered systems, gravity-fed solutions, advanced monitoring and strong community-led oversight.

The session concluded with a call to enhance monitoring, reinforce community ownership and prioritise source rejuvenation to secure long-term rural water supply. CW.