In a significant step towards strengthening service delivery and community ownership under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, today e- launched Jal Seva Aankalan, a Gram Panchayat-led digital drinking water service functionality assessment tool on the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) portal. The initiative marks a decisive shift from infrastructure creation to sustained service delivery, placing Gram Panchayats and village institutions at the centre of assessing the regularity, adequacy, quality and sustainability of drinking water supply in Har Ghar Jal (HGJ) villages. The tool was formally e-launched by Shri C. R. Patil, Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti and around 10,000 representatives of Har Ghar Jal Gram Panchayats from across States/ UTs participated virtually in the programme.
Shri Ashok K. K. Meena, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, explained that Jal Seva Aankalan is neither an inspection nor an external audit, but a structured, community-led self-review process that enables villages to assess how effectively their piped water supply systems are functioning. The assessment covers key service parameters including regularity and adequacy of water supply, drinking water quality, operation and maintenance of systems, source sustainability, and village-level institutional and management arrangements.
The process begins with structured discussions involving members of the Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC), Panchayat Secretary, system operators and a representative cross-section of water users, including women and vulnerable groups. The findings are then placed before the Gram Sabha for open deliberation and endorsement. Upon approval through a Gram Sabha resolution, the assessment is digitally uploaded on the JJM Panchayat Dashboard and publicly disclosed through platforms such as eGramSwaraj and the Meri Panchayat App, with a 30-day citizen feedback window before finalisation.
All Har Ghar Jal Gram Panchayats are expected to complete Jal Seva Aankalan by 26th January 2026, reinforcing the principle that rural water supply systems belong to the community and must be managed by the community itself.
