In March 2026, Meghalaya became the 12th state in the country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on reforms initiated under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM 2.0), representing a major step towards sustainable and service-oriented rural water supply.
- The MoU was formally signed by Meena Naik, Joint Secretary (Water), Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) and Praveen Bakshi, PHE, Government of Meghalaya.
Key Details of MoU:
Focus Areas: Decentralization of water management; empowerment of Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs); development of District Water and Sanitation Missions (DWSMs); and community ownership and participation in water supply systems.
Sustainability and Water Conservation: The MoU emphasizes on water conservation and source sustainability, and encourages states to utilize schemes like: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005(MGNREGA) to bolster water resources.
Key Progress: So far, Meghalaya has achieved nearly 83% rural tap water coverage under JJM.
JJM: The JJM, launched by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi on 15 August 2019, to provide tap water to all rural households. The MoJS has extended the deadline to December 2028 (from May 2024), with an additional outlay of Rs 1.51 lakh crore under JJM 2.0, including Rs 67,300 crore in Union Budget 2025–26 (FY26).
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