The Ministry of Water Resources, under the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), held a national level training programme (TOT) for state‑level trainers at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0. Representatives from State Rural Development Institutions (SRDI), Public Health Engineering Departments (PHED), rural development bodies and other key stakeholders from states/union territories attended. The aim is to build capacity for large‑scale community training and institutional development, so that rural drinking water services can be sustained long‑term across the country.
The training focused on the JJM 2.0 capacity‑building package, comprising 8 modules including "The Story of Panipur: A Story‑Based Self‑Learning Handbook on Rural Drinking Water Supply Management" and an "Instructor Facilitation Manual". The package is designed to enhance the capacity of Gram Panchayat representatives, Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSC), Sujalam Power Groups and other grassroots bodies involved in managing and sustaining drinking water services in rural areas.
During his address, the Additional Secretary and Mission Director of National Water Mission, Shri Kamal Kishor Son, emphasised that the long‑term continuity of rural drinking water systems largely depends on community ownership and institutional responsibility. The drinking water infrastructure being built today is intended to serve rural communities for many decades. Hence, active participation of Gram Panchayats, VWSCs and community groups must be integral from the outset.
He stressed that to achieve the vision of a developed India by 2047, not only is infrastructure construction required, but continuous efforts are needed to ensure effective operation and maintenance through strong local institutions.
Referencing emerging examples of better service delivery in several states, Shri Son highlighted the need to prepare village‑level institutions for high service standards and sustainable management of water supply systems. He urged participants to strengthen the sense of ownership between Panchayat representatives and community bodies, so that drinking water infrastructure is viewed as a communal asset to be collectively protected and maintained.
His address centred on linking JJM with Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP), Panchayati Raj institutions and the National Gram Swaraj Campaign (RGSA). He also stressed integrating the specified grants of the 16th Finance Commission and VB‑G Ram Ji resources. He urged states to ensure Panchayat representatives understand the financial resources and planning tools at their disposal, so that water source continuity, operation and maintenance needs, and local drinking water priorities are appropriately incorporated into development plans.
Shri Son underscored the importance of user fee collection, financial sustainability, protection of water sources and community monitoring for the long‑term smooth operation of rural water supply systems.
He called for institutionalising the training programme, urging states to embed the capacity‑building modules into existing rural development and Panchayati Raj training systems. This will allow learning and capacity building to continue even after the mission period ends, becoming a sustainable support mechanism for rural drinking water service delivery.
Joint Secretary of the Drinking Water & Sanitation Department, Mrs. Swati Meena Naik, stressed the importance of capacity building for the long‑term success of the mission. She noted that while heavy investment is being made to build drinking water infrastructure in rural areas, the sustainability of these assets depends on community awareness and capable local institutions that can operate, maintain and manage drinking water systems effectively over time. She emphasised that the training’s purpose is not merely to impart technical knowledge but to enable trainers to convey complex concepts in simple, practical, easily understandable ways to rural communities. She explained that the newly developed training modules use storytelling, folk communication methods, role‑play, community dialogue and playful learning techniques to make the learning process more engaging and effective.
She said the initiative’s main goal is to strengthen community‑based management of rural drinking water systems through capacity building. It is expected that village‑level institutions will play an even greater role in water distribution, operation and maintenance, user fee management, grievance redressal, monitoring system performance and planning service improvements.
Mrs. Naik highlighted the importance of transparency and equal access to information through digital platforms and dashboards. This will allow citizens, Gram Panchayats and higher administrative levels to receive programme information uniformly and participate more effectively in rural water administration. She noted that the comprehensive training programme aims to involve about 5.4 million stakeholders. She urged states/union territories to prepare robust mechanisms and training arrangements for timely implementation.
Ms. Meena highlighted the role of technology‑based administration through initiatives such as Sujalam Bharat and dashboards at various levels. She stressed that digital platforms should serve as tools for transparency, accountability and informed decision‑making, enabling Gram Panchayats and citizens to actively monitor and improve service delivery. She emphasised the role of Sujalam Power Groups, noting that the initiative offers large opportunities for women’s leadership, community mobilisation and livelihood improvement, while also strengthening drinking water administration at the grassroots.
In his closing remarks, AS and MD of NJJM, Shri Kamal Kishor Son, reiterated that the long‑term stability of rural drinking water services depends on community participation, responsible water use and effective local management of water supply systems. He highlighted the importance of safeguarding drinking water sources for future generations and urged states to raise awareness among communities about water conservation, source sustainability and prudent water use as part of the capacity‑building initiative.
Shri Son emphasised that user fees should not be viewed merely as a financial mechanism but as a means to foster responsibility and ownership among rural communities towards their drinking water systems. He clarified the distinction between water as a natural resource and drinking water service delivery, explaining that user contributions help communities understand the investment, operation and maintenance involved in delivering safe drinking water to households, thereby increasing participation in maintaining these services.
He stressed that while Panchayats should play a primary role in the daily operation and management of water supply systems in villages, technical assistance from relevant departments will remain essential for major repairs and technical challenges. Highlighting the positive impact of household tap connections on dignity, convenience and equal access to drinking water, he urged participants to promote community ownership, behavioural change, water conservation and institutional responsibility as key messages when conducting training programmes in states and union territories.
Participants from NJJM, the Director, Deputy Secretary, Deputy Advisor and NPMU members discussed the story‑based self‑learning handbook and instructor facilitation manual and provided training. The training package, based on a fictional village named "Panipur", contains eight interconnected modules covering rural water supply systems, source continuity, water quality, institutional arrangements, operation and maintenance, digital governance, community ownership and development of Sujal villages. The modules are designed to encourage participatory learning and help communities translate knowledge into practical action.
Collaborating organisations UNICEF and UNOPS representatives shared their field experiences, key points and practical methods. They explained how to prepare trainers and conduct effective grassroots training by following the prescribed module content and coordinating with SRDI. They also assured that in the states where they work, they will collaborate with the state PHED/rural water supply department to provide training at state and district levels.
The national level training of trainers is a crucial step towards implementing the capacity‑building framework of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0. By building a strong network of state master trainers and equipping them with standard training resources, the mission aims to strengthen Gram Panchayats, VWSCs and community bodies. The goal is to deepen community participation and ensure continuity of rural drinking water infrastructure and services across the country.