Community participation marks Jal Arpan Diwas in Mahendragarh
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, “Jal Arpan Diwas” was celebrated with community participation across various village panchayats of Mahendragarh district on Friday.
Programmes were organised under the aegis of the Public Health Engineering Department, Narnaul, at Bigopur village in the Nizampur block, Digrota in the Satnali block, Atali in the Sihma block and Adalpur in the Mahendragarh block.
Junior Engineer Pinky Yadav stated that the aim of “Jal Arpan” is to connect the rural drinking water schemes with community participation so that safe and clean tap water reaches every household sustainably.
District Consultant Mangtu Ram Sarsawa added that transferring operational responsibilities to the panchayats and Village Water and Sewerage Committees (VWSCs) fosters accountability and ownership.
He emphasised that the scheme is not merely about water supply but about conservation, efficient management and long-term water security through community empowerment.
As per officials, the main objective of the event was to create awareness among the rural community about water conservation, safe drinking water management and the panchayat handover scheme. Through this initiative, it was emphasised that the operation and maintenance of water supply schemes will now be responsibly managed by the village panchayats to ensure sustainability and long-term effectiveness.
During the programmes, Block Resource Coordinators Ashok Kumar, Pooja Rani, Anita and Dharmender elaborated on the importance of Jal Arpan Diwas. They explained that water is not just a natural resource, but the foundation of life, and its protection is a collective responsibility.
Through “Jal Bandhan,” the villagers pledged to safeguard water sources. Under “Jal Parikrama,” drinking water facilities such as sources, tanks, pipelines and distribution systems were inspected. Through “Jal Sankalp,” the villagers collectively took an oath to conserve water, maintain cleanliness and ensure regular upkeep.
On this occasion, “Jal Veers”, including women, members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), VWSC members, tube-well operators and motor drivers, were honoured for their contributions.
The role of officials in the successful implementation of water schemes was highlighted. Women and SHGs were encouraged to participate in bill collection, water quality monitoring and awareness campaigns.
The officials provided detailed information about the panchayat handover scheme, stating that the responsibility for operation and maintenance of water supply schemes is being transferred to the VWSCs.
They also informed the villagers about the grievance redressal system and encouraged them to use toll-free numbers 18001805678 and 9041741800 for resolving drinking water-related issues. The officials assured the villagers of prompt resolution and transparency in handling complaints.
The programmes were attended by sarpanches, panches, anganwadi workers, VWSC members, motor operators and other villagers. Drinking water sources were symbolically handed over to the panchayats by tying ceremonial threads. This gesture signified that the schemes would now function with a sense of community ownership rather than government projects.
