The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched a focused effort to complete drinking water supply to all tribal villages included in two national schemes: the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA). At a recent follow-up meeting, the department directed states and union territories to harmonise data, identify villages still without tap water, and submit formal proposals for funding.
The initiative comes with dedicated financial support: Rs 5,000 crore has been set aside under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 specifically for closing drinking water gaps in these tribal settlements. The meeting brought together federal and state officials from water supply departments, tribal affairs, and local administration to coordinate the effort.
Key facts
- Rs 5,000 crore allocated under JJM 2.0 for PM-JANMAN and DA-JGUA villages
- Focus on harmonising data between tribal welfare departments and Jal Jeevan Mission databases
- States like Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to submit proposals in October 2026
- Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Kerala and Manipur asked to address specific issues in already-submitted proposals
- District Water and Sanitation Missions to serve as validation platform at district level
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs conducted SurveySetu exercise for household-level verification of tap connections
What the schemes cover
PM-JANMAN and DA-JGUA are government initiatives targeting tribal populations. Under these schemes, eligible villages have been identified as priorities for development and welfare programmes. Drinking water supply is a core component, and the DDWS is now ensuring that every household in these villages gets a functional tap connection.
The coordination challenge
Different government departments maintain separate records: tribal welfare departments track which villages qualify under the schemes, while water supply agencies maintain their own databases of water infrastructure and coverage. This fragmentation means some villages may be left out or counted twice. The DDWS has therefore instructed all states to create a single, validated database by combining information from four sources: PM-JANMAN records, DA-JGUA lists, SurveySetu findings (a household-level verification exercise), and Jal Jeevan Mission records.
States must complete this data matching work and identify any gaps: villages that qualify under the schemes but still lack tap water connections. District administrations, led by district magistrates, will verify these findings at district level through District Water and Sanitation Missions before final proposals are prepared.
How proposals will be prepared and approved
Once gaps are identified, state water supply and tribal welfare departments must jointly prepare detailed project proposals, including technical design and cost estimates. These proposals must reference validated government land codes, avoid counting the same village twice, and clearly justify why each village qualifies for funds.
The DDWS has instructed states to ensure realistic population figures, proper water source planning, and reasonable costs per household tap connection. Proposals will then be reviewed by a Joint Committee chaired by the federal secretaries of the DDWS and Ministry of Tribal Affairs before approval and fund release.
States given specific instructions
Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Kerala and Manipur have been asked to address problems in proposals already submitted, such as incorrect land codes, incomplete documentation, and unrealistic cost estimates. Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Assam have been directed to act on earlier feedback from the DDWS. Several states have committed to submitting proposals by October 2026.
What this means for you
If you live in a tribal village under PM-JANMAN or DA-JGUA, this effort means your state administration is being pushed to verify whether your settlement has a functional tap water connection and, if not, to prepare a proposal to get one. The Rs 5,000 crore fund is reserved specifically for these villages, removing financial barriers. However, the process depends on accurate data and timely state action, so there may be delays before work begins in your area.
What happens next
States and union territories must establish harmonised databases within weeks and submit joint proposals to the federal Joint Committee for approval. District administrations will continue to validate SurveySetu findings and report any changes to state governments and the DDWS. The department has committed to regular reviews through district-level water and sanitation meetings to track progress toward universal coverage.