The Centre has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with four states under the Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 to enhance safe drinking water supply across rural India. The agreement has been signed with Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti said the reform-linked MoU promotes a gram panchayat-led, service-based and community-centred approach to rural water governance. The initiative, aligned with the objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, which aims to ensure that every rural household has access to a quality drinking water supply in adequate quantity on a regular basis through strengthened community participation.

The MoUs were signed in the presence of the Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil, Chief Ministers of the respective states and senior officials from the Centre’s Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS).

Addressing the gathering, Union Jal Shakti Minister Paatil said, Jal Jeevan Mission has transformed rural drinking water supply across the country and reduced the ordeal of fetching water, especially by women and girls.

Mr Paatil also stressed the need for water conservation, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, greywater management, catchment area protection and community-based water quality monitoring.