Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Tamil Nadu, Establishment of PMU at State Level for SWSM under Mission Director, Orders Issued

What the document governs

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (CGS.1) Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 75 dated 24 March 2020 as an administrative arrangement for implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission in Tamil Nadu. It establishes a State level Project Management Unit under the Mission Director of the State Water and Sanitation Mission.

The document does not create a land acquisition, land classification, planning or property registration process. Its subject is the organisation and staffing of a government water and sanitation programme.

Who it affects

G.O. (Ms.) No. 75 dated 24 March 2020 mainly affects officers and staff drawn from the following bodies:

• The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department.
• The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board.
• The Finance Department or Accountant General.
• The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
• The National Informatics Centre, along with personnel engaged through outsourcing.

The Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and the Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board must issue deputation orders for officers from their respective organisations. The Health and Family Welfare Department must issue deputation orders for the listed public health officials. Salaries of deputed officers remain payable by their respective departments.

Key provisions

G.O. (Ms.) No. 75 dated 24 March 2020 provides for:

• A Project Management Unit with 38 listed staffing categories, including administrative officers, engineers, finance staff, health and sanitation personnel, water quality specialists, communication specialists, information system staff and outsourced support personnel.
• Technical and monitoring roles for both Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board implementation and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj implementation.
• Dedicated functions covering finance, health, hygiene, sanitation, water quality monitoring, environmental matters, information and communication, capacity building and implementation support agencies.
• Power for the Mission Director of the State Water and Sanitation Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission, to allocate work to officials posted to the Project Management Unit.
• Engagement of academic institutions, training institutions, corporate social responsibility partners, research partners and advocacy partners as consultants.
• Selection, empanelment and guidance for implementation support agencies.
• Engagement of specialists through outsourcing on a contract basis when required.
• Formation of committees or subcommittees to examine proposals and support implementation.

The Additional Chief Secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department may modify requirements in consultation with the Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and the Mission Director of the Jal Jeevan Mission.