Ministry of Jal Shakti launched Jal Seva Aankalan (JSA), a Gram Panchayat–led digital drinking water service functionality assessment tool under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The initiative strengthens service delivery, transparency, and community ownership of rural drinking water systems.
Jal Seva Aankalan (JSA)
- Nature: Community-owned, self-assessment mechanism
- Platform: Jal Jeevan Mission portal (JJM Panchayat Dashboard)
- Approach: Gram Panchayat–led, Gram Sabha-approved
- Coverage: All Har Ghar Jal Gram Panchayats
- Deadline: 26 January 2026
JSA marks a shift from infrequent, costly third-party surveys to a continuous, locally embedded evaluation system rooted in grassroots governance.
Objectives of Jal Seva Aankalan
- Strengthen reliability and sustainability of rural drinking water services
- Empower Gram Panchayats as custodians of water supply systems
- Promote democratic decision-making through Gram Sabhas
- Enable early identification of service delivery gaps
- Reduce dependence on external assessment agencies
Why Jal Seva Aankalan Matters
With many Gram Panchayats achieving Har Ghar Jal status, Jal Jeevan Mission has entered a second phase where the focus is on:
- Regularity
- Adequacy
- Quality
- Safety
- Sustainability of drinking water supply
JSA ensures that tap connections translate into dependable daily water services, not merely infrastructure creation.
Key Service Parameters Assessed Under JSA
Villages assess their piped water supply systems on the following parameters:
- Regularity and adequacy of water supply
- Drinking water quality
- Operation and maintenance (O&M) of infrastructure
- Source sustainability
- Institutional and management arrangements at village level
The assessment is collective, reflective, and locally owned, rather than externally imposed.
Assessment Process
Step-by-Step Mechanism
- Structured discussions involving:
- Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC)
- Gram Panchayat representatives
- Panchayat Secretary
- System operators
- Water users, including women and vulnerable groups
- Open deliberation in Gram Sabha
- Findings discussed transparently
- Democratic validation through Gram Sabha resolution
- Digital Upload & Public Disclosure
- Uploaded on JJM Panchayat Dashboard
- Disclosed via eGramSwaraj and Meri Panchayat App
- Citizen Feedback Window
- 30-day public feedback period
- Assessment finalised after feedback incorporation
- Administrative Oversight
- Accessible to District Collectors / CEOs of Zila Panchayats
- Enables timely corrective actions by district and state authorities
Expected Outcomes of Jal Seva Aankalan
- Anchors drinking water service assessment in Gram Sabha processes
- Enhances transparency and accountability through public disclosure
- Enables early detection of operational, quality, and sustainability issues
- Supports evidence-based district and state planning
- Reinforces community stewardship of rural water supply systems
Governance Significance
Jal Seva Aankalan:
- Strengthens local self-government (73rd Constitutional Amendment spirit)
- Institutionalises community participation in service delivery
- Deepens social audit–like accountability in rural infrastructure
- Aligns infrastructure ownership with community responsibility
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
- Launched: 15 August 2019
- Objective: Provide safe and adequate drinking water through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to all rural households
- Approach: Community-centric, demand-driven
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti
Key Components of Jal Jeevan Mission
- In-village piped water supply infrastructure
- Bottom-up planning with community participation
- Women empowerment in planning, monitoring and O&M
- Institutional coverage: Schools, Anganwadis, tribal hostels
- Skill development & local employment
- Greywater management for source sustenance
- Source sustainability: Groundwater recharge, conservation
- Water quality monitoring to reduce water-borne diseases
Funding Pattern
- Centre : States = 50 : 50
- Himalayan & North-Eastern States = 90 : 10
- Union Territories = 100% Central funding