A one-day Awareness-cum-Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) program on the theme “Socio-Economic and Environmental Impact of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Its Sustainability: An Empirical Study in Nagaland” was successfully held at the Panchayat Hall, Mopungchuket village, on August 2, 2025. The event was organised by the Department of Environmental Science, Nagaland University, Lumami, under an ICSSR-funded research project supported by the Ministry of Education, New Delhi, Government of India.
The program was led by Project Director and Head of the Department of Environmental Science, Nagaland University, Prof. Ashutosh Tripathi, along with Co-Project Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, NU Lumami, Dr. Ashutosh Tripathi; HoD, Department of Chemistry, NU Lumami, Prof. Ambrish Singh; HoD, Department of Environmental Science, Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung, Asst. Prof. Nohochem Sangtam; and a core team member of the project.
The session commenced at 10:30 AM with Research Assistant, Imlirenla, moderating the proceedings. The welcome address was delivered by the Chairman of the WATSAN (Water and Sanitation Committee), Mopungchuket village, Arentemsu, who underscored the community’s role and previous efforts in implementing sustainable water supply initiatives.
In his keynote address, Prof. Ashutosh Tripathi highlighted the transformative potential of the Jal Jeevan Mission in strengthening rural water infrastructure and its cascading effects on socio-economic progress and environmental sustainability. He outlined the project’s objective to evaluate JJM’s ground-level impact and promote its long-term viability through community engagement and evidence-based policymaking.
The current implementation status of JJM in Mopungchuket was presented by the village WATSAN Secretary, who provided an overview of progress made and the challenges remaining in achieving fully functional household tap connections.
Dr. Ashutosh Tripathi delivered a talk on “Community Participation in Water Management,” emphasising the critical importance of stakeholder engagement and coordination at the grassroots to ensure both the effectiveness and sustainability of water sources.
Nohochem Sangtam shared the research objectives of the ongoing empirical study and appealed for community cooperation during the upcoming field activities. He expressed gratitude to the Department of Public Health Engineering (PHED), Mokokchung Division, particularly the Executive Engineer and staff, for their coordination and support during the preliminary survey. He also urged village stakeholders to provide candid and constructive feedback, noting that the study will encompass 25 villages in the Mokokchung district, with field investigators and research assistants having started proceeding since last month, and further remaining villages will be covered for analysis. While thanking the Mopungchuket WATSAN and council for hosting the awareness program, he sought active collaboration from both village stakeholders and PHED personnel.
The program was attended by Deputy Director Sports, Nagaland University, Dr. Harish Kumar Tiwari, the WATSAN Committee Council and the Chairman, including others attended the meeting.
The program concluded with group discussions, the collection of water samples and structured questionnaires. The interactive engagements helped build mutual understanding between the research team and local community, establishing a foundation for participatory and sustainable research going forward.
The event represented a significant milestone in advancing the understanding of the Jal Jeevan Mission’s impact in Nagaland through a blend of scientific inquiry, socio-economic analysis, and community partnership.
(DPRO, Mokokchung)