Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil on Monday launched the nationwide ‘Swachh Gaon, Surakshit Jalvayu’ (SGSJ) campaign and a National Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to create awareness about the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026.
The launch event, organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, was held in hybrid mode and attended by senior officials from the Centre and States, including representatives of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) and Gram Panchayats.
The SGSJ campaign, being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, will run from June 1 to June 5 as part of World Environment Day 2026 activities. A preparatory phase was conducted between May 25 and May 29.
The campaign aims to promote awareness on Mission LiFE, environmental protection and behavioural change while encouraging sustainable waste management practices in rural areas. It will also focus on spreading awareness about the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, which came into effect on April 1 this year.
According to the Ministry, the campaign seeks to sensitise rural stakeholders about key provisions of the new rules, including identification of Bulk Waste Generators, four-stream waste segregation at source and management of legacy waste. Gram Panchayats will also undertake self-assessment and validation of community solid waste management assets.
The initiative will further encourage sustainable practices under Mission LiFE and mobilise communities to strengthen cleanliness efforts, ensure proper operation and maintenance of waste management infrastructure and move towards ODF Plus (Model) villages.
The campaign will culminate on June 5 with a Special Gram Sabha and the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” plantation drive across Gram Panchayats, where campaign achievements and awareness initiatives related to the SWM Rules will be reviewed.
Alongside the SGSJ campaign, the Department launched a national IEC campaign to simplify the provisions of the SWM Rules, 2026 for States, districts, rural local bodies, households, institutions and other stakeholders. The campaign aims to communicate the rules through citizen-friendly messages to support behavioural change and compliance at the grassroots level.
During the event, the Union Minister interacted with Sarpanches from Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Assam and Uttar Pradesh, who shared their experiences in implementing waste management initiatives under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 2.0. They also briefed him on planned activities under the SGSJ campaign.
Patil stressed the need for proper management of solid and liquid waste, including greywater, and called for measures to prevent wastewater from entering rivers and other water bodies.
The Minister also interacted with State Mission Directors of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir to review progress under SBM(G) 2.0 and discuss implementation of the SWM Rules, 2026.
Addressing the gathering, Patil praised the achievements of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), stating that more than five lakh villages have declared themselves ODF Plus (Model). He said the mission has built on Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of cleanliness and achieved major milestones under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the past 12 years.
He noted that nearly 12 crore toilets have been constructed in rural areas under the mission, leading to a transformation in sanitation practices across the country.
Patil said SBM(G) 2.0 promotes scientific waste management, greywater management and Waste-to-Wealth initiatives. He urged citizens to adopt waste segregation and environmental conservation as part of their daily lives and called upon States, Union Territories, Gram Panchayats, youth groups and self-help groups to actively participate in the SGSJ campaign.
Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ashok K.K. Meena, said SBM(G) 2.0 has entered its final year and stressed the need to achieve saturation of ODF Plus (Model) villages, maintain functionality of assets and strengthen monitoring mechanisms.
He highlighted the central role of Gram Panchayats in sustaining sanitation outcomes and ensuring compliance with the SWM Rules, 2026.
Joint Secretary and Mission Director, SBM(G), Aishvarya Singh, said the SGSJ campaign has been designed with specific activities for each of the five days and should be implemented across all States and Union Territories. She said the SWM Rules, 2026 provide a clear framework for action, accountability and monitoring in rural areas.
The Ministry said the campaign is expected to strengthen awareness on Mission LiFE, climate action and solid waste management while encouraging greater public participation in cleanliness initiatives and supporting the long-term sustainability goals of SBM(G) 2.0.
