SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Institution: Ministry of Jal Shakti | Ministry of Panchayati Raj
On 15 September 2025, Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Patil inaugurated the Sarpanch Samvaad National Quality Conclave at QCI, World Trade Centre, New Delhi, organised by the Quality Council of India in collaboration with the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. The conclave marked a milestone with over 60,000 sarpanchs onboarded onto the Sarpanch Samvaad mobile app, creating a first-of-its-kind digital community of grassroots leaders. Seventy-five sarpanchs from 22 states deliberated on five thematic areas drawn from the Localised Sustainable Development Goals.
The conclave also launched a 100-Day Good Governance Challenge (Sept 17βDec 25, 2025) through the app, aimed at mobilising sarpanch-led campaigns nationwide. Leaders highlighted the transformative potential of digital governance, capacity building, and peer learning to achieve Swachhata, Sujal villages, and overall rural transformation under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The initiative demonstrates how technology and quality frameworks can strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions by enabling peer learning, monitoring best practices, and creating accountability. For policy, it highlights the growing role of digital platforms in empowering local governance, improving water and sanitation outcomes, and aligning grassroots action with national development goals.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can the Sarpanch Samvaad platform be scaled sustainably to include all 2.5 lakh sarpanchs, and what safeguards are needed to ensure digital access, capacity building, and measurable improvements in governance outcomes?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2166851