The Government of India has signed reform-linked Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the states of Manipur and Bihar under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0, marking another step toward ensuring sustainable and community-driven rural drinking water services across the country.

The agreements aim to promote a Gram Panchayat-led and service-oriented model of water governance, with a focus on long-term sustainability, regular water supply, community participation, water quality monitoring, and efficient operation and maintenance of rural water infrastructure.

The MoUs were signed in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C.R. Patil along with senior representatives from the respective state governments. The initiative aligns with the broader objective of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 to move beyond infrastructure creation and focus on reliable and continuous delivery of safe drinking water to rural households.

Addressing the occasion, the Union Minister emphasized that the next phase of the mission prioritizes sustainability of water sources, functionality of household tap connections, community ownership, and regular monitoring. He also highlighted the importance of water conservation measures such as rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and catchment area protection to ensure long-term water security.

For Manipur, the Centre expressed confidence that the state would soon achieve universal rural tap water coverage despite challenging conditions, while Bihar was encouraged to maintain its momentum after crossing 90% rural tap water coverage.

The reform framework empowers Gram Panchayats and Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) to manage local water supply systems, reinforcing decentralized governance and community ownership. District administrations will play a key role in monitoring implementation and supporting village-level institutions.

With the signing of these agreements, 33 out of 34 eligible States and Union Territories have now entered into reform-linked MoUs with the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, reflecting broad nationwide commitment to strengthening rural water security and service delivery.