India Integrates Water, Sanitation with Rural Employment Scheme

The Centre has directed states and Union Territories to integrate drinking water source sustainability, greywater management, and sanitation works with the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) rural employment guarantee scheme.

This joint directive from the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Rural Development aims to converge resources. Water security and sanitation are a key thematic focus area under the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025.

Integrating Key Missions

The ministries have specified that several existing initiatives must be integrated into Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs). This ensures a unified approach to rural development.

• Works under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0.
• Greywater management interventions.
• Sanitation and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) works under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 2.0.

States are urged to prioritize specific water conservation measures. These include groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, and the rejuvenation of water bodies, particularly in water-stressed areas.

Ensuring Coordinated Implementation

Effective coordination is crucial for the success of this directive. The Centre has outlined steps to facilitate this at various levels.

• Include relevant officials in state-level steering committees.
• Nominate dedicated nodal officers from state water and sanitation missions and rural development departments.

These officers will facilitate coordinated planning, technical scrutiny, implementation, and monitoring. Furthermore, village action plans prepared under JJM 2.0 and SBM (G) 2.0 must be technically aligned with VGPPs before gram sabha approval to avoid duplication.

Monitoring and Resource Utilisation

For transparency and evidence-based decision-making, drinking water source sustainability works, sanitation assets, and greywater management structures are to be registered and geo-tagged. This data will be recorded on the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack.

States are encouraged to utilize geospatial planning tools, such as Yuktdhara, along with water budgeting and hydrogeological assessments. This will help identify and prioritize water conservation interventions following a ridge-to-valley approach.

This convergence is intended to contribute to sustainable drinking water security, groundwater recharge, and climate resilience. It also aims to improve rural livelihoods across the country.

Close coordination among various departments at state, district, and gram panchayat levels is critical for successful implementation. States and Union Territories are advised to accord high priority to water-related works under the VB-G RAM G Act, ensuring minimum expenditure percentages in over-exploited, semi-critical, and safe blocks.