NEW DELHI: The Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti has directed all States and Union Territories (UTs) to actively involve students from local academic institutions in documenting and disseminating best practices under the second phase of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM 2.0).
Information was available with The Chenab Times that this initiative aims to bolster field-based learning and foster knowledge-sharing by engaging colleges and universities in studying and reporting on the innovative approaches being implemented across the country for rural drinking water supply.
Focus on Field-Based Learning and Innovation
The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched to ensure functional household tap connections in every rural home, has become a significant developmental program. Over its implementation, numerous exemplary practices have emerged in areas such as ensuring community involvement, maintaining the sustainability of water sources, managing water quality, overseeing operations and maintenance, adopting new technologies, and strengthening decentralized governance structures. Recognizing the immense value of these on-ground innovations, the DDWS is encouraging a structured approach to capture and share this knowledge.
States and UTs have been urged to undertake specific actions to facilitate this process. This includes actively engaging local colleges, universities, and other academic bodies to conduct studies and document selected case studies and best practices observed under JJM 2.0. The findings from these studies are expected to be disseminated through various academic platforms, including journals, institutional reports, newsletters, research papers, and websites, thereby promoting evidence-based knowledge sharing and replication of successful models.
Enhancing Student Exposure and Understanding
Furthermore, the directive emphasizes the identification of suitable case studies and tour sites. Necessary coordination with local academic institutions, District Water and Sanitation Missions (DWSMs), and Gram Panchayats is to be facilitated. A key component of the initiative involves organizing educational tours for Higher Secondary and Senior Secondary students. These tours will provide students with firsthand exposure to crucial water infrastructure, such as Multi Village Schemes (MVS), Water Treatment Plants (WTPs), Intake Wells, and advanced technologies like Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Internet of Things (IoTs). They will also visit National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited Water Testing Laboratories, offering a comprehensive understanding of water management systems.
The initiative sets a target for each district to complete at least one student tour and publish one case study or best practice documentation in collaboration with local academic institutions by the end of September 2026. This ambitious timeline underscores the importance placed on integrating educational institutions into the mission’s operational framework.
Strengthening Rural Water Security
Through this comprehensive approach, JJM 2.0 aims to cultivate a deeper culture of learning directly from the field. The program seeks to encourage innovation by showcasing successful rural water supply practices, making them more visible and accessible to a wider audience. Ultimately, this effort is designed to contribute significantly to the sustained strengthening of rural water security across the nation, ensuring that students gain practical insights while contributing to the mission’s success.
The Chenab Times News Desk