COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE UNDER JAL SHAKTI ABHIYAN

‘Water’ being a State subject, the aspects related to water resources, including its conservation, are studied, planned, funded and executed by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities. The Central Government supplements the measures and efforts being taken up by the State Governments.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019 as a time-bound, mission-mode water conservation campaign in 256 water-stressed districts of the country. The Hon’ble Prime Minister launched “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” (JSA: CTR) in 2021 with the tagline “Catch the Rain – Where it Falls When it Falls” across the country, including the North Eastern States. The JSA: CTR 2025 was launched with the theme “Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Jan Jagrukta Ki Or” emphasising community participation and water conservation awareness. The Abhiyan emphasises Jan Bhagidari by involving local communities in the identification, execution and maintenance of water conservation works.

The campaign emphasizes convergent financing from various schemes of the Central, State and local bodies like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Per Drop More Crop, Repair, Renovation and Restoration Components under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and Finance Commission grants.

The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.(UPDATED ON 16TH MARCH 2026)