The Ministry of Jal Shakti has called for the nationwide mainstreaming of Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) following the 8th meeting of its National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) held in New Delhi. Chaired by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, the session brought together senior officials from participating States, World Bank representatives, and members of the National Program Management Unit to review the scheme’s impact and future roadmap.
The Secretary described the Atal Bhujal Yojana as a pioneering and community-driven initiative that has significantly enhanced public awareness and participation in sustainable groundwater management. Noting the visible impact of climate change on the national water cycle, she asserted that ABY must now be expanded across the country. She also emphasised empowering local communities, particularly Gram Panchayats, to implement water budgeting as a mandatory practice for conserving resources.
The meeting focused on institutionalising successful innovations piloted under ABY, with the Secretary urging States to prepare detailed operation and maintenance plans to ensure long-term sustainability of equipment and infrastructure created under the scheme. She also called for wider application of the technical knowledge and human resources developed during the programme, encouraging their use in complementary government schemes for broader benefit.
Subodh Yadav, Additional Secretary (Admin, IC&GW) and National Project Coordinator for ABY, presented a pilot case from Ismailpur Gram Panchayat in Yamunanagar district, Haryana. The case featured high-frequency groundwater data analysis and its application in local-level water planning. Innovative practices from other participating States were also showcased.
An independent Impact Assessment conducted by the Quality Council of India highlighted the scheme’s successes, including heightened community awareness, increased participation of women, inclusion across diverse social groups, promotion of water-efficient cropping patterns, and noticeable socio-economic gains. These findings bolstered the Ministry’s recommendation for deeper investment and replication.
The World Bank presented its findings from the recent implementation support mission and shared both achievements and improvement areas. It encouraged States to fully utilise available funds and continue scaling up effective practices. The meeting concluded with State-wise presentations demonstrating regional outcomes of the scheme and strategies for replication.
The Committee expressed satisfaction with the scheme’s progress and recommended accelerated efforts to use its learnings as a foundation for wider groundwater management reforms across India.
