Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil today virtually launched Jal Seva Aankalan to strengthen service delivery and community ownership under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Ministry of Jal Shakti said that Jal Seva Aankalan is a Gram Panchayat-led digital drinking water service functionality assessment tool on the Jal Jeevan Mission portal.
It has been conceptualised as a community-owned self-assessment, enabling villages to collectively reflect on their water service delivery systems rather than relying solely on infrequent and costly third-party surveys. All Har Ghar Jal Gram Panchayats are expected to complete the exercise by the 26th of January next year.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Patil said that Jal Seva Aankalan will empower Gram Panchayats to become custodians of their water supply systems, helping to strengthen democratic decision-making through Gram Sabhas.
The Minister stressed that community participation and transparency are essential for the long-term sustainability of rural drinking water systems. Mr Patil added that this new tool will help identify service delivery gaps early and enable timely corrective action.
