Original (en)

New Delhi, May 6: Continuing the nationwide rollout of reform linked implementation under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0; Mizoram and Ladakh signed MoUs with the Union Government on Wednesday, committing to a structured reform framework for sustainable, transparent and community-led rural drinking water service delivery. The reform‑linked MoU, as per a PIB statement, mandates a Gram Panchayat‑led, service‑based and community‑centred model of rural water governance, aligned with the objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0. The reform‑linked MoU seeks to ensure that every rural household has access to drinking water supply in adequate quantity and of prescribed quality on a regular basis through strengthened community participation (Jan Bhagidari) and bringing in structural reforms for sustainable operation and maintenance of rural water supply systems, thereby enhancing the living standards of rural communities contributing to long‑term water security aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. The MoUs were signed in the virtual presence of the Union Minister of Jal Shakti, C. R. Patil. Minister of State for Jal Shakti V. Somanna was also present during the MoU signing at the DDWS office. Senior officials from the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), including Ashok K. K. Meena, Secretary, DDWS, Kamal Kishore Soan, Additional Secretary & Mission Director, National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) were also present during the MoU signing. Marking a key step in Centre-UT collaboration, the MoU with Ladakh was formally signed on the presence of Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena; Shashanka Ala, IAS, Secretary, UT, Ladakh; Dr Mohammad Usman Khan, JKAS, Add. Secretary, PHE/I&FC department, Ladakh and other senior officials from the State. The MoU was signed and exchanged between Swati Meena Naik, Joint Secretary (Water), DDWS, and Shurbir Singh, IAS, Commissioner/Secretary, PHE/I&FC Department, UT, Ladakh. The MoU with Mizoram was sig