Manohar Lal reviews state preparations for Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 ahead of nationwide campaign

Officials were briefed on targeted priorities for SHS 2026:

• Transform Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) and high-footfall public places to show demonstrable improvement.
• Swachh Paathshala — Yuva for Swachhata: engage youth through schools and sports departments for large-scale sanitation activities.
• SafaiMitra Suraksha Evam Samman Shivirs: recurring welfare, safety and recognition camps for sanitation workers with linkages to welfare schemes, preventive health checks and provision of safety gear.
• Jan Bhagidari for Swachhata: mobilize citizens, elected representatives, RWAs and prominent personalities for local leadership and mass participation.
• Swachhata se Samriddhi: promote circular economy and Waste-to-Wealth initiatives to turn waste into value.

Operational guidance for States and UTs

States were urged to plan coordinated local actions and advocacy well ahead of the campaign. Specific asks included:

• Organize cleanliness drives across government offices, tourist sites and water bodies.
• Start SHS activities at home on 17 September and use evening symbolic actions (lighting a Diya) to indicate commitment to sustain cleanliness.
• Mark 25 September with inclusive cleanliness drives, and 2 October (Swachh Bharat Diwas) with special council meetings, drives at public places and advocacy on Solid Waste Management Rules.
• Conduct a nationwide Shramdaan event aiming for "Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath" around 1 October, involving education and sports departments to activate youth and athletes.
• Encourage municipalities to run inter-ward and inter-RWA cleanliness competitions to increase engagement among residential associations.

Sanitation worker welfare and programme continuity

The meeting emphasized recurring SafaiMitra Suraksha Evam Samman Shivirs rather than one-off events. These Shivirs should connect sanitation workers to eligible welfare schemes, provide periodic preventive health check-ups, and ensure adequate safety gear. States were advised to make these camps routine across the year to enhance safety and recognition.

Advocacy, reporting and special dates

States/UTs were advised to deploy creative outreach — Jan Bhagidari drives, sports events, spiritual or soulful songs and Swachhata anthems — and to report activities regularly during the campaign. Significant dates aligned with the campaign:

• 17 September: campaign launch and start of home-based activities.
• 25 September: drives in remembrance of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya with focus on inclusivity.
• 1 October: nationwide Shramdaan push involving youth and sports departments.
• 2 October: Swachh Bharat Diwas observances and advocacy on Solid Waste Management Rules.
• 7 October: special Swachchata programmes marking completion of the Prime Minister's 25 years of public service.

Municipalities, RWAs, elected representatives and local leaders will need to plan practical, visible tasks: cleaning key public sites, mobilizing volunteers for short, measurable actions, organizing competitions to sustain momentum, and arranging welfare camps for sanitation workers. States must also document and report actions taken during the campaign to create a record of outcomes.