‘Swachhata Hi Seva 2026’ campaign commences today

The 2026 edition of the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign kicked off on Thursday, urging citizens nationwide to take responsibility for their surroundings. Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil unveiled the campaign on Wednesday, stating that this year's theme is "Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat." Patil emphasized that cleanliness is no longer just a government program but has evolved into a mass movement driven by people's participation, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Thursday also commemorates Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday, which falls on September 17. During the launch, Patil revealed that 5.25 lakh villages in the country have been declared open defecation-free. Additionally, since 2014, 12.22 crore individual household toilets have been constructed in rural areas, demonstrating significant progress in the sanitation sector.

According to Patil, last year, over 18 crore citizens took part in the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, with 14 crore participants coming from rural areas. He reiterated that citizen participation continues to grow each year. The minister expressed the hope that in 2026, every state, village, panchayat, and individual will actively engage in the movement.

Patil further announced the launch of Swachh Seva Aankalan by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, a component of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen). This initiative enables gram panchayats to conduct self-assessments of rural sanitation service delivery. The minister emphasized that this move aims not only to achieve the cleanliness target but also to ensure continuous improvement of the sanitation system at the village level.