As part of Special Gram Sabha on Gandhi Jayanti, Jal Arpan Observed in more than 1850 Gram Panchayats Across Rural India.

Key Highlights:

• More than 1,850 Gram Panchayats/villages observed Jal Arpan on Gandhi Jayanti, formally handing over completed rural water supply schemes.
• Jal Arpan is a key reform under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, placing rural drinking water systems under community management.
• 346 Har Ghar Jal Certificates were generated in regional languages, strengthening community ownership of drinking water services.
• Over 15.96 crore rural households, representing more than 82% of rural households, now have drinking water tap connections under Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Digital governance is enhanced through Sujalam Bharat, with 2691 water supply assets, including around 700 sources, geo-tagged.

Detailed Insights:

• The Jal Arpan initiative marks a shift towards community-led management and sustainable delivery of drinking water services.
• Completed schemes are formally handed over to Gram Panchayats and Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) for operation and maintenance.
• Har Ghar Jal Certificates are now available in Hindi, English, and 17 other regional languages, making the certification process more accessible.
• Community participation is strengthened through activities like Jal Sankalp, Jal Bandhan, and demonstrations on water quality testing using Field Test Kits.
• Sujalam Bharat supports improved planning, monitoring, and long-term sustainability by creating a comprehensive digital inventory of water assets.
• The observance of Jal Arpan resonates with Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of community participation and local self-governance for water security.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A flagship program aiming to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections to all rural households.
• Jal Arpan: A reform under JJM 2.0 for formal handover of completed water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs for community management.
• Gram Panchayat: The basic unit of local self-government at the village level, responsible for local administration and development.
• Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs): Sub-committees of Gram Panchayats responsible for planning, implementation, and operation & maintenance of village water supply and sanitation systems.
• Har Ghar Jal Certificates: Official certifications issued to Gram Panchayats/villages that have achieved 100% tap water connectivity under JJM.
• Sujalam Bharat: A digital initiative under JJM 2.0 for geotagging water supply assets to strengthen digital governance and asset management.