New Delhi, 30 December (HS): Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil on Tuesday e-launched Jal Seva Aakalan, a gram panchayat-based digital tool aimed at enabling regular assessment of the regularity, adequacy, quality and sustainability of drinking water services in rural areas.

According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the tool will empower gram panchayats and village-level institutions to carry out self-assessment of their water supply systems. This will allow villages to collectively review the status of drinking water services instead of relying on external and costly surveys.

The launch event was attended by Ministers of State for Jal Shakti V Somanna and Raj Bhushan Choudhary, senior officials including departmental secretary Ashok K K Meena and Mission Director Kamal Kishore Soan, representatives from states, panchayat secretaries, sarpanches and members of village water and sanitation committees. Representatives from around 10,000 Har Ghar Jal gram panchayats participated virtually.

Patil said the Jal Jeevan Mission is not limited to the creation of infrastructure, but focuses on ensuring reliable and sustainable drinking water services for every rural household. He identified political will, public participation, stakeholder collaboration and optimal use of resources as the four pillars of the mission, stressing that public participation is the most crucial.

The ministry said the Jal Seva Aakalan process will begin with discussions involving the village water and sanitation committee, panchayat secretary, system operator and water users. The findings will then be placed before the gram sabha for approval and subsequently uploaded digitally on the Jal Jeevan Mission portal. The data will be made publicly available at the national level, with citizens given 30 days to provide feedback.

Under the initiative, all Har Ghar Jal gram panchayats are required to complete the Jal Seva Aakalan by January 26, 2026.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar