The First Regional Conference on Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 concluded in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, emphasizing sustainable drinking water services and community ownership. The event involved five teams led by senior officials including Secretary DDWS Ashok K. K. Meena and Additional Secretary & Mission Director NJJM Kamal Kishore Soan, who visited water supply infrastructure and participated in Jal Arpan Diwas celebrations across five villages: Palamaneri, Ambedkar Nagar, Theeranmanagar, Ayyampalayam and Puthu Uthamanur.
Secretary Meena emphasized that Jal Arpan should not be merely ceremonial but the beginning of sustained partnership between State Government, implementing department and Gram Panchayat. He stressed that JJM 2.0 aims to move beyond household tap connections toward ensuring regular, reliable and safe drinking water services with the long-term aspiration of 24×7 potable water supply. He suggested officials drink water directly from village taps to strengthen community confidence in water quality.
Additional Secretary Soan emphasized translating JJM 2.0 reforms into effective field-level implementation and personally drank water from a household tap during his village visit. He underscored that Jal Arpan should be communicated as shared responsibility for sustainable water service delivery rather than mere infrastructure handover.
Joint Secretary D. Senthil Pandian highlighted systematic follow-up after the Departmental Summit held in September 2026, with specific action points, responsible stakeholders and timelines identified. Inter-ministerial consultations were held with Ministries of Panchayati Raj, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Tribal Affairs and Rural Development to strengthen convergence. He elaborated on JJM 2.0 reforms including institutional accountability, formal infrastructure handover to Gram Panchayats, O&M policy implementation, VWSC capacity building, District Technical Units, water quality monitoring, digital mapping through Sujalam Bharat, and source sustainability planning using Decision Support System (DSS). States were urged to adhere to committed reform timelines ahead of the proposed national-level review in February 2027, with five Regional Conferences planned as part of the structured review process.
The field visits provided practical insights into source-to-tap drinking water infrastructure including riverbed collector wells, pumping and distribution arrangements, and community-led operation and maintenance. Jal Arpan Diwas celebrations witnessed participation by Gram Panchayats, VWSC members, women's Self-Help Groups, schoolchildren and local communities through cultural performances, rangoli and painting competitions, water quality testing demonstrations, community pledges, and formal handing over of scheme documents and as-built drawings to Gram Panchayats.