Jal Jeevan Mission’s annual policy gathering unites Ashok Meena, Parameswaran Iyer, Anjum Parvez, and Anil Das at IIMB 

5 November, 2024, Bengaluru: IIM Bangalore hosted a high-impact policy dialogue on the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) featuring guests including Mr. Ashok Meena, OSD, National Jal Jeevan Mission; Mr. Parameswaran Iyer, Executive Director, World Bank; Mr. Anjum Parvez, Additional Chief Secretary, Rural Development and PR; and Mr. Anil Das, Advisor to the Executive Director, World Bank. The meeting on 5 October focused on advancing digital integration, enhancing water management, and strengthening community engagement within JJM. 

Mr. Ashok Meena underscored the importance of regular monthly meter readings, proposing a user-friendly app for pump operators with geofencing and attendance tracking capabilities. He also suggested a model that ties grants to the Village Water and Sanitation Committee’s (VWSC) performance in user charge collections. Citing examples from Delhi, he proposed open-source solutions to streamline operations and urged the adoption of standardized templates for VWSC meetings to keep water and sanitation priorities in check. 

Mr. Ashok also championed the adoption of advanced project management tools to push real-time transparency and accountability in water initiatives. By mandating platforms such as E-Pragati and PM Gati Shakti for data uploads, he envisions a future where stakeholders can monitor project milestones instantly, promoting proactive oversight. For community engagement, he proposed contaminant alert systems and QR codes at water sources, harnessing digital markers to give communities direct access to water quality insights.  

Mr. Parameswaran Iyer endorsed Mr. Ashok’s vision for digital oversight, proposing that IIM Bangalore spearhead case studies on JJM’s broad social impacts—from driving local employment to boosting women’s wages. To take digital integration nationwide, he suggested professional management models for MVS schemes. Mr. Iyer also placed greywater management high on the agenda, advocating for a deeper valuation of water, tied to users’ willingness to pay, to drive more mindful usage. By linking JJM with Swachh Bharat Mission initiatives, he envisioned a unified push toward sustainable, community-centered water practices.  

 Mr. Anjum Parvez shared examples of Karnataka's initiatives in water equity, including flow control valves for balanced distribution and performance-driven contracts for VWSCs. He went on to analyze digital tools such as the Panchatantra app and QR-coded VWSC cards which streamline guidance, while a WhatsApp chatbot enables swift issue resolution.  

Mr. Anil Das tagged community education as a cornerstone for JJM’s success and viewed it as’ crucial’ to driving public involvement in water management. 

 
Future Directions and Key Recommendations: 

• Digitalization: Conduct national-level digital intervention studies for MVS operations and explore potential for professional management through software monitored on PM Gati Shakti. 

• Community Tools: Develop a digital platform for households with Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) for bill payments, consumption tracking, and quality metrics. 

• Greywater and Wastewater Management: Integrate SBM with JJM for greywater management solutions and drive behavior change around water use. 

• Transparent Communication: Deploy QR codes and digital signboards at water sources to provide quality updates as an IEC initiative. 

• Performance-Based Grants: Strengthen tied and performance-linked grants to Gram Panchayats, incentivizing user charge collection by VWSCs. 

• Research and Development: Lead national studies on the impact of JJM on job creation, women’s wage increases, and digital adoption within the water sector.