India, March 16 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, Field Test Kits (FTKs) are promoted as a community-based tool for surveillance of drinking water quality at the delivery points including village, schools, and Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) and for undertaking Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) activities. States/UTs are encouraged to involve trained members of Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs)/ Pani Samitis, Self-Help Groups and other community volunteers for periodic testing of drinking water sources and household tap water using FTKs. The experience indicates that FTKs have been effective in promoting community participation, enhancing awareness regarding drinking water quality, and enabling early identification of basic contamination indicators. Community-level testing acts as a first-level screening mechanism and strengthens local ownership of water quality monitoring. As reported by States/UTs on JJM - Water Quality Management Information System (JJM-WQMIS), as on 12.03.2026, about 24.80 lakh women have been trained for water quality testing using FTKs. Further, as reported by States/ UTs on JJM-WQMIS, as on 12.03.2026, about 47.59 lakh water samples have been tested using FTKs during 2025-26 and about 93.84 lakh water samples were tested using FTKs during 2024-25.
Results obtained through FTKs serve as indicative screening results and are supplemented through confirmatory testing in laboratories. In case of adverse results during FTK testing, water samples are required to be collected and send to the nearest drinking water testing laboratory for confirmation using standard laboratory methods. The network of State, regional, district, sub-division and block level laboratories established under the Jal Jeevan Mission ensures verification and reliability of the test results. States/UTs are encouraged to compile and analyse such information along with laboratory testing data to identify contamination patterns, local contamination, prioritise vulnerable sources and plan for preventive and remedial measures.
The operational guidelines issued under the Jal Jeevan Mission provide for regular community-based testing of drinking water using FTKs and prescribe follow-up actions. In case contamination is detected through FTK testing, States/UTs are required to undertake confirmatory laboratory testing and initiate appropriate corrective measures such as disinfection, source remediation, provision of alternative safe sources, or treatment measures, as applicable. States/UTs have also been advised to ensure periodic training, refresher capacity building and proper documentation of FTK testing to strengthen systematic follow-up and response mechanisms.
The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
