President of India Graces National Event of Jal Mahotsav 2026, held today at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
President of India Graces National Event of Jal Mahotsav 2026, held today at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
The Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, organised the National Event of Jal Mahotsav 2026 today at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, as part of the nationwide campaign being observed from 8–22 March 2026 to strengthen community participation and sustainability in rural drinking water service delivery under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
The national event was graced by the Hon’ble President of India Smt. Draupadi Murmu, who led the Jal Kalash ceremony and felicitated selected Community Members from across States/UTs for their exemplary contribution to rural drinking water governance.
Addressing the gathering, hon’ble President highlighted that water is not merely a basic service but a fundamental pillar of health, dignity and sustainable development.
She underlined water’s centrality to India’s cultural and developmental fabric and acknowledged the women-led, community-owned model advancing safe, reliable rural drinking water services under JJM. For decades, particularly women and children bore the burden of fetching water from distant sources, often affecting their health, education and overall well-being.
She appreciated that Jal Jeevan Mission, launched by the Government of India, has brought transformative change by ensuring that safe drinking water reaches rural households through functional tap connections.
She said that the mission’s success lies not only in infrastructure development but also in empowering communities to manage and sustain drinking water systems. Gram Panchayats, Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs), Self-Help Groups and trained community members are playing a central role in the operation and maintenance of rural drinking water supply systems.
She also highlighted the growing role of women in rural water governance. Across the country, women trained in the use of Field Test Kits (FTKs) are actively monitoring drinking water quality at the village level, strengthening local capacity and community confidence in drinking water services.
She appreciated the integration of technology in strengthening transparency and efficiency and said that digital platforms such as the Sujalam Bharat App, Real-Time Dashboard, Decision Support System, Meri Panchayat App and Panchayat Dashboard are enabling data-driven planning and ensuring timely information sharing at the Gram Panchayat level.
She stated that the Jal Seva Aankalan initiative is supporting regular assessment of rural water supply systems, while the Nal Jal Mitra programme is providing skill training to local women and youth, enhancing operation and maintenance capacity and creating livelihood opportunities.
The Hon’ble President also underscored the importance of greywater management, groundwater recharge, and rainwater harvesting, appreciating the role of the Central Ground Water Board in promoting sustainable water resource management.
Marking World Plumbers’ Day, she commended the crucial contribution of plumbers in maintaining rural water supply infrastructure. She further appreciated the active participation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and urged them to continue supporting community-led efforts for Jal Suraksha, essential for long-term sustainability of drinking water supply systems.
Reiterating the message “Jal Hai to Kal Hai”, the President called for collective responsibility to ensure water security for future generations
Congratulating the grassroots leaders and functionaries present at the ceremony, the President said their dedication demonstrates how community participation, technology and effective governance together can transform public service delivery. She quoted that “Access to safe drinking water is fundamental to health, dignity and social progress. The achievements of Jal Jeevan Mission demonstrate how policy, technology and community participation together can transform rural service delivery. The grassroots leaders being recognised today are true champions of this national transformation.”
During the ceremony, the President honoured community members, whose work exemplifies excellence in managing and sustaining rural drinking water systems.
These recognitions highlighted the critical role played by local leadership, community participation and accountability in ensuring the long-term sustainability of rural drinking water services.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Paatil said that Jal Jeevan Mission has ushered in a historic transformation in rural India by ensuring access to safe and adequate drinking water through functional household tap connections.
He said that safe drinking water has a direct impact on health outcomes, education, sanitation and women’s empowerment, while significantly reducing the time spent on fetching water.
He expressed happiness for the Cabinet approval on JJM 2.0 with enhanced financial outlay, which will help connect all rural households with tap water. He said, “Jal Jeevan Mission is not merely about providing tap water connections; it is about empowering communities to manage and sustain their water systems. Jal Mahotsav celebrates this spirit of Jan Bhagidari and recognises the grassroots champions who are ensuring reliable and sustainable rural drinking water services across the country.”
After Departure of Hon’ble President of India, The Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Paatil, recognised ten community members for their contributions to the Mission.
The event celebrated the leadership and dedication of communities, PRIs, VWSC members, Self-Help Groups, and frontline workers who are playing a crucial role in ensuring sustainable and reliable rural drinking water services across the country.
The national ceremony formed a key highlight of the Jal Mahotsav 2026 campaign, a nationwide initiative being observed from 8 March to 22 March to strengthen Jan Bhagidari through GPs and community ownership of rural drinking water systems under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Secretary, DDWS, Shri Ashok K.K. Meena welcomed the Hon’ble President, Ministers, dignitaries, and community representatives, and highlighted the significance of Jal Mahotsav 2026 being celebrated nationwide from 8thto 22th March.
During the event a thematic film on Water–Health–Nutrition was showcased.
The ceremony was attended by Minister of State for Ministry of Jal Shakti Shri V. Somanna, Minister of State for Ministry of Jal Shakti Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Secretary, Department of Water Resources Shri V. L. Kantha Rao, senior officials from DDWS, States and Union Territories, representation from MoPR, MoWCD, MoHFW, AICTE, MSDE, development partners, academic institutions, civil society organisations and grassroots representatives from across the country.
The post‑lunch segment of the national event featured four thematic sessions designed to deepen collaboration and promote knowledge exchange across sectors.
The first thematic session focused on the critical convergence of water, nutrition and public health and the discussion highlighted how safe drinking water directly influences child nutrition and health outcomes. Second session, aligned with International Plumber’s Day, centered on the Nal Jal Mitra Programme and the professionalisation of rural plumbing services. Third session brought together academic institutions, students and policymakers to advance the Jal Seva Adhyayan initiative. Participants shared insights from field exposure, highlighted opportunities to integrate rural water themes into engineering curriculum. The fourth and final session focused on sustainable greywater management and community-led solutions.