New Delhi, Dec 30 (NationPress) The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C. R. Paatil, recently e-launched Jal Seva Aankalan, a digital tool designed to assess drinking water service functionality at the village level, which is spearheaded by the Gram Panchayat on the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) portal, according to an official announcement.

This initiative aims to enhance service delivery and promote community ownership under the Jal Jeevan Mission, as stated by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti.

During his address, the Minister highlighted that the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is focused not only on asset creation but also on providing reliable drinking water services to every rural household consistently.

He detailed the four fundamental pillars of the Mission: Political Will, People's Participation, Stakeholder Collaboration, and Optimal Resource Use. He emphasized that Jan Bhagidari is the most vital pillar for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the achievements under Har Ghar Jal.

According to the Minister, Jal Seva Aankalan empowers Gram Panchayats to take charge of their water supply systems and reinforces democratic decision-making through Gram Sabhas.

He stated, “The Jal Jeevan Mission serves the people and the villages, and the community bears the responsibility to maintain it; this can only be accomplished through Jan Bhagidari.”

The Minister reiterated that community involvement and transparency are crucial for the enduring sustainability of rural drinking water systems. He noted that the new tool will aid in identifying service delivery gaps promptly and facilitate timely corrective actions.

This assessment tool signifies a significant transition from merely constructing infrastructure to ensuring ongoing service delivery, positioning Gram Panchayats and village institutions at the forefront of evaluating the regularity, adequacy, quality, and sustainability of drinking water supplies in Har Ghar Jal (HGJ) villages, as per the official statement.

With a considerable number of Gram Panchayats achieving Har Ghar Jal status, the Jal Jeevan Mission has progressed into a new phase that focuses on translating tap connections into reliable and safe drinking water services daily.

Jal Seva Aankalan is designed as a community-owned self-assessment tool, allowing villages to collaboratively evaluate their water service delivery systems instead of relying on infrequent and expensive third-party evaluations.

The launch event saw participation from Ministers of State for Jal Shakti, V. Somanna and Raj Bhushan Choudhary, along with senior officials from DDWS, representatives from various states and institutions, Panchayat Secretaries, Sarpanches, and members of Village Water and Sanitation Committees.

Around 10,000 representatives from Har Ghar Jal Gram Panchayats across different States/UTs participated virtually in the program.