NEW DELHI, 15 September 2026: Mr C R Patil, Minister of Jal Shakti, Government of India, today called for collective action to sustain the achievements of the Swachh Bharat Mission and urged industry, Gram Panchayats, civil society and citizens to play a stronger role in ensuring long-term sanitation outcomes.
Addressing the 10th FICCI-ISC Sanitation Awards and India Sanitation Conclave 2026, Mr Patil said the Prime Minister has transformed sanitation from merely a government programme into a people’s movement, bringing a significant change in attitudes and behaviour towards sanitation across the country.
“The Swachh Bharat Mission has brought about a major change in both people’s thinking and behaviour regarding sanitation in the country. Let us all work together to further strengthen the Prime Minister’s resolve for a clean, healthy and developed India,” he said. Emphasising the need to sustain these achievements, Mr Patil said government efforts alone would not be sufficient. “For villages to remain clean, waste to be properly managed and the systems created to continue functioning properly for a long time, the participation of Gram Panchayats, industry, social organisations and, most importantly, all our citizens is essential,” he said.
Calling upon industry to contribute its technology, resources and experience, the Minister added, “We need to create systems that are simple, suited to local needs and sustainable over the long term.”
The Conclave also highlighted the evolving priorities of India’s sanitation agenda. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) emphasised the shift towards end-to-end sanitation and waste management, including viewing wastewater as ‘used water’ that can be treated, recovered and reused. Stronger partnerships, technical support and systemic approaches will be critical to accelerating this transition.
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, underscored the shift from infrastructure creation to sustained service delivery, with greater focus on operations and maintenance, capacity building and functionality of sanitation assets. Climate-resilient rural sanitation based on Reduce, Reuse and Recharge, along with improved biodegradable waste management, will be important for sustaining outcomes.
Dr R A Mashelkar, Former Director General, CSIR and Chair, Awards Jury, said India has made significant progress in sanitation, but the challenges ahead are becoming more complex and cannot be addressed through infrastructure alone.
“We need innovation that is relevant and affordable; technology that is inclusive; institutions that can deliver; business models that are sustainable; and partnerships that can take solutions from the laboratory to the field and, ultimately, to the last mile,” Dr Mashelkar said.
Ms Naina Lal Kidwai, Past President, FICCI and Chair, India Sanitation Coalition, said the 10th anniversary of the FICCI-ISC Sanitation Awards was both a significant milestone and an opportunity to shape the agenda for the coming decade.
