On 22 and 23 October, local government representatives united to strengthen community water management across Karnataka 

5 November, 2024, Bengaluru: The Jal Jeevan Mission Office at IIM Bangalore, in partnership with the UNICEF-Hyderabad Field Office hosted a Two-day State level Write-shop on 22 and 23 October 2024 on ‘Developing Guidelines on the Handover Process of JJM Assets to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs in Karnataka’.  

Bridging existing gaps in the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) asset handover process, the two-day write-shop brought a diverse spectrum of field experiences to the forefront. The collaborative initiative aimed to identify critical challenges, explore rapid appraisal findings, and map solutions to shape a robust framework for asset transfer. A write-shop was thus proposed to engage key stakeholders in a dialogue and knowledge transfer for an effective handover process, ensuring sustainable management of JJM assets.  

This Write-shop welcomed over 80 diverse stakeholders including Government representatives such as the Commissioner, Panchayat Raj, Director of RDWSD, as well as other key officials from these departments. Members of local government including Gram Panchayat members, Panchayat Development Officers, selected members of Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC), civil society representatives including Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) joined forces with technical and financial experts from the sector, contributing valuable insights and expertise.  

The write-shop employed a participatory approach, combining expert presentations, panel discussions, group work, and case studies. Guided by skilled moderators, participants from across Karnataka shared their experiences, highlighted present challenges, and exchanged best practices for asset handover.  

The collective knowledge-sharing process is set to shape a standardized framework and refined guidelines for an efficient, sustainable handover of JJM assets to Gram Panchayats and their communities. Additionally, the write-shop’s outcomes will lay the groundwork for capacity-building initiatives, empowering communities to manage and maintain effective water supply systems.