Since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with States is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal to make provision of potable water to every rural household of the country, through functional tap water connection.

Since its launch, Jal Jeevan Mission is being implemented as a decentralized, demand-driven and community-managed programme, wherein the Gram Panchayat and/ or its sub-committee/ user group i.e. Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/ Pani Samiti are being empowered to plan, implement, manage, operate and maintain in-village water supply system to provide regular and assured tap water supply in rural households. Accordingly, it has been envisaged that with the support of PHED/ RWS Department/ agency, in-village infrastructure development and management to be looked after by respective Gram Panchayat and/ or its sub-committee, i.e. VWSC/ Paani Samiti/ User Group, etc. and infrastructure for bulk transfer of water and distribution systems up to the village boundary will be the responsibility of PHED/ RWS department/ board/ corporation, as the case may be.

For enabling the local village community to play their role in planning, implementation and to shoulder the responsibility of operation and maintenance, Nal Jal Mitra Programme (NJMP) has been launched in collaboration with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to equip them with a comprehensive set of skills & develop “Nal Jal Mitras”, so that they can function as scheme operators and are able to carry out minor repairs and maintenance, including preventive maintenance, of the piped water supply scheme(s) in their village as skilled masons, plumbers, fitters, electricians, motor mechanics, pump operators, etc. NJMP envisages to ensure availability of at least one and preferably two “Nal Jal Mitra” in each Gram Panchayat of country, for operation and maintenance of water supply infrastructure.

Up to 2% of the allocation to States/ UTs under JJM can be utilized by the States/ UTs for Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance (WQM&S) activities which inter-alia includes setting up of and upgrading existing water quality laboratories at various levels, providing chemicals and consumables to laboratories, procurement of equipment’s, instruments, chemicals/ reagents, glassware, consumables, procurement of Field Test Kits(FTKs)/ H₂S vials for water quality surveillance at grass root level and NABL accreditation/ recognition  of laboratories,  etc.

As reported by States/ UTs, as on 28.07.2025, there are 2,775 drinking water quality testing laboratories at different levels viz. State, District, sub-division and/ or block level labs in the country including 591 Water Treatment Plant located labs.

In order to empower citizens, States/ UTs have been advised to identify and train 5 persons, preferably women, in every village to conduct water quality testing using Field Testing Kits (FTKs)/ bacteriological vials at village level and report the same on the Water Quality Monitoring Information System (WQMIS) portal. So far, as reported by states/UTs, more than 24.80 lakh women have been trained for testing water using FTKs.

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

 

MAM/SMP

(Lok Sabha US Q1985)

(Release ID: 2150707)