Sri Lankan Parliamentary Delegation Visits DDWS to Study Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen

1. At a Glance

• A Sri Lankan parliamentary delegation from the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development visited the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti in March 2026 to study Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) [S1].
• Significant for UPSC as an instance of India's development-diplomacy / South-South cooperation in water-sanitation governance, dovetailing with India's "Neighbourhood First" policy.

2. Why in the News

• On 26 March 2026, the delegation led by Shri S.M. Marikkar, M.P. (Chairman) received a detailed presentation by DDWS on JJM and SBM-G as part of a week-long study tour to India [S1].
• Indian side led by Shri Ashok K.K. Meena, Secretary, DDWS and Shri Kamal Kishore Soan, Additional Secretary & Mission Director, NJJM [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

• JJM launched on 15 August 2019 by PM, with goal of Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by 2024 [S2].
• SBM launched 2 October 2014; SBM-G Phase II launched in 2020 with focus on ODF Plus (sustaining ODF + solid/liquid waste management) [S3].
• India declared rural India ODF on 2 October 2019 (5th anniversary of SBM).

4. Core Static Facts

• Parent Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti → Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) [S1].
• JJM Nodal Body: National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) [S1].
• JJM Funding pattern: 90:10 (NE/Himalayan/UT-Legislature), 50:50 (other States), 100% for UTs without legislature.
• JJM Coverage (as on 14 Aug 2024): 15.07 crore (77.98%) rural households with tap connections; 188 districts, 1,838 blocks, 1,09,996 Gram Panchayats, 2,33,209 villages declared Har Ghar Jal [S2].
• 11 States/UTs at 100% FHTC as on 14 Aug 2024: Goa, A&N, DNH & DD, Haryana, Telangana, Puducherry, Gujarat, HP, Punjab, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh [S2].
• Institutional coverage: 9,27,421 schools and 9,63,955 Anganwadi centres with tap water (Aug 2024) [S2].
• SBM-G Phase II: >4.43 lakh villages declared ODF Plus; 75% of villages ODF Plus (Oct 2023 milestone) [S3].
• 14 States/UTs at 100% ODF Plus: A&N, DNH, Goa, Gujarat, HP, J&K, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Puducherry, Sikkim, TN, Telangana, Tripura [S3].
• Sri Lankan Committee: Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, Parliament of Sri Lanka [S1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

• Geopolitical/Strategic — Reinforces India's Neighbourhood First and SAGAR doctrines; positions India as a model exporter of rural water-sanitation governance to Indian Ocean partners; complements ongoing Indian assistance to Sri Lanka's economic recovery post-2022 crisis.
• Administrative — Showcases India's decentralised, GP-led implementation model (VWSC/Pani Samiti for JJM; Gram Sabha-led ODF verification for SBM-G); highlights cooperative federalism with states.
• Social — Both missions target women's drudgery reduction (water-fetching), school sanitation, dignity; ODF status linked to SDG-6 [S2][S3].
• Economic — JJM is among India's largest public-works programmes; SBM has been cited by WHO for averting diarrhoeal deaths; aids rural employment via local plumbing/sanitation cadres.
• Ethical/Governance — IEC-led behaviour change; transparency via JJM and SBM-G dashboards; third-party verification of Har Ghar Jal claims.

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 26 March 2026 — Sri Lankan delegation briefed by DDWS at New Delhi [S1].
• 14 Aug 2024 — JJM crosses 15.07 crore tap connections (77.98%) [S2].
• Oct 2023 — Milestone of 75% villages ODF Plus under SBM-G Phase II [S3].
• JJM extended beyond original 2024 deadline to complete remaining coverage.

7. Prelims Hooks

• JJM launched on 15 August 2019 [S2].
• JJM target: Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) of 55 litres per capita per day (lpcd) of potable water.
• Parent ministry of JJM and SBM-G: Ministry of Jal Shakti (not Ministry of Rural Development) [S1].
• DDWS was earlier under Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (merged into Jal Shakti in 2019).
• SBM-G Phase II launched 2020, focus ODF Plus [S3].
• An ODF Plus village = sustained ODF + Solid or Liquid Waste Management system [S3].
• First state to be declared Har Ghar Jal: Goa (Aug 2022).
• 11 States/UTs at 100% FHTC as of Aug 2024 [S2].
• National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) is the central implementing body [S1].
• Sri Lankan delegation chair: S.M. Marikkar, M.P. [S1].
• SBM-G Phase II runs (originally) 2020-21 to 2024-25.
• VWSC / Pani Samiti — sub-committee of Gram Panchayat for JJM execution.

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Governance — Welfare schemes; India and its neighbourhood (Sri Lanka relations).
• GS-III: Infrastructure (water, sanitation); inclusive growth.
• Question stems: 1. "JJM marks a paradigm shift from supply-driven to demand-driven, decentralised water service delivery." Discuss. 2. India's experience with SBM-G offers a replicable rural sanitation template for South Asia. Examine. 3. Critically evaluate the gap between tap coverage and functional water security under Jal Jeevan Mission [S2].

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• National Water Mission — sister mission under Jal Shakti for water-use efficiency.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana — community-led groundwater management.
• Namami Gange — flagship river-rejuvenation programme.
• SBM-Urban 2.0 — counterpart for urban sanitation (MoHUA).
• SDG-6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) — international benchmarking framework.
• India-Sri Lanka relations — IORA, BIMSTEC, "Neighbourhood First".
• 15th Finance Commission tied grants for water & sanitation to PRIs.
• Composite Water Management Index (NITI Aayog) — state ranking.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• JJM is under Ministry of Jal Shakti / DDWS, NOT Ministry of Rural Development.
• SBM-G is under Jal Shakti; SBM-U is under Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
• JJM target = 55 lpcd, NOT 40 lpcd (which was the earlier NRDWP norm).
• ODF Plus ≠ ODF; requires SLWM in addition to sustained ODF status [S3].
• Sri Lankan body is Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development (a parliamentary committee), not a ministerial delegation [S1].
• JJM is centrally sponsored, NOT a central sector scheme.

11. Sources

• [S1] Sri Lankan Parliamentary Delegation Visits DDWS — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2245589 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] Jal Jeevan Mission status (Aug 2024) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=152025&ModuleId=3&reg=3&lang=1 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] SBM-G Phase II / ODF Plus milestone — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1959918 — (tier: 1)