NAVSARI, GUJARAT — Union Minister of Jal Shakti C. R. Patil led a Special Gram Sabha at Majigam village in Chikhli Block, Navsari District, to mark Swachh Bharat Diwas on October 2, 2026.
The event was held alongside senior officials from the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) and Gujarat Cabinet Minister Naresh Patel, as part of nation-wide special Gram Sabha observances organized under the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2026 campaign.
Key Highlights & Village Level Initiatives
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Sanitation Worker Felicitation: Union Minister C. R. Patil felicitated local sanitation workers for their contributions to community hygiene and rural sanitation.
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Waste to Art Exhibit: Dignitaries inspected a community-led “Waste to Art” exhibition showcasing creative recycling and the reuse of discarded materials.
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Environmental Drive: A tree plantation initiative was conducted under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, followed by a collective Swachhta pledge by Gram Sabha participants.
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Swachh Seva Aankalan: Joint Secretary & Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), Aishvarya Singh, presented the digital self-assessment framework designed for ODF Plus (Model) Gram Panchayats.
Policy Focus & Grassroots Implementation
The Special Gram Sabha focused on integrating waste management strategies directly into Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs):
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Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026: Deliberations centered on enforcing mandatory four-way source segregation at the household and village levels.
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Bulk Waste Generators: Outlined procedures for identifying, registering, and monitoring bulk waste producers within rural jurisdictions.
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Pan-India Observance: Senior DDWS officials participated in parallel Special Gram Sabhas across multiple states and union territories, including Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Sayli GP), Jharkhand (Sithiyo GP), Haryana (Ratipur GP), and Madhya Pradesh (Mugaliya Haat and Jhirniya GPs).
