Bhopal: Under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, effective initiatives have been undertaken in the state to ensure the availability of drinking water through public participation. As part of these efforts, “Jal Mahotsav–2026” is being organised across the state.
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the campaign goes beyond merely providing drinking water. It represents a forward-looking initiative aimed at ensuring community participation in water management at the village level. The initiative aims to strengthen a sustainable, accountable and self-reliant rural water supply system.
“Jal Mahotsav–2026” is being organised in selected villages of the state from March 8 to March 22, 2026. The objective of the festival is to highlight the achievements of villages where tap water supply to every household has already been ensured and where the operation, management and maintenance of drinking water schemes are being successfully carried out with the active participation of Gram Panchayats and local communities.
The festival will also provide an opportunity to further raise awareness and encourage participation of rural communities in water management responsibilities.
Under the guidance of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, the Jal Jeevan Mission is being implemented in the state as a broad-based public participation initiative. Through Jal Mahotsav, the active role of Gram Panchayats, Village Water and Sanitation Committees, Self-Help Groups and local communities will be encouraged. This will further strengthen the conservation of water sources, smooth the operation of drinking water systems, and foster a sense of community ownership.
The state has been consistently undertaking notable efforts for water conservation and augmentation. The country’s first “Jal Arpan Diwas” was organised on December 23, 2025, at Gorakhpura in Rajgarh district under the Gorakhpura Group Water Supply Scheme, presenting an inspiring example of community participation in water management.
Villages selected for “Jal Mahotsav–2026” are those where the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ status has been verified and where the Village Water and Sanitation Committee is effectively operating the drinking water supply system. From each district, two villages have been identified where water supply systems meeting the standards of the Jal Jeevan Mission are being successfully implemented. These events are being organised under the guidance of the District Collector, in coordination with the District Panchayat and the Public Health Engineering Department.
= Recognition and honour of outstanding contributors
During the festival, individuals who have made significant contributions to village-level water management, such as valvemen, women members of Self-Help Groups and active members of Village Water and Sanitation Committees, will be identified. They will be honoured by the Collector during meetings of the District Water and Sanitation Committee, encouraging outstanding community-led efforts in water management.
An amount of up to Rs 25,000 per selected village may be spent from the funds available at the Project Implementation Unit level for organising the event.
= Festival to be organised across multiple districts
The festival is being organised in selected villages across districts covered under various Project Implementation Units in the state. These include Bhopal, Sehore, Rajgarh, Gwalior, Indore, Ratlam, Neemuch, Chhindwara, Shahdol, Anuppur, Rewa, Sidhi, Chhatarpur, Damoh, Panna, Ujjain and Barwani, among others.
Through “Jal Mahotsav–2026”, the state aims to highlight achievements in ensuring safe drinking water while further strengthening community participation in water management, thereby enabling the sustainable and effective operation of rural water supply systems.
