The DDWS and UNICEF workshop have established the guiding on the strategies of inclusive and climate-resilient rural sanitation in the context of SBM-G Phase II with the highlight on sustainability, equity, and grassroots governance.
Swachh Bharat Mission Grameem (SBM-G) has become one of the most revolutionary public health programs in India whereby the overall practice of sanitation and behaviour of the community in terms of improved hygiene has changed significantly. The third phase of the mission will revolve around maintaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and ODF Plus villages, and never has the requirement to address inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable sanitation systems been more essential since the transition is one step closer. The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) in partnership with UNICEF organized the National Rural Sanitation Workshop on 2nd July 2025, at India Habitat Centre, in New Delhi. The high-level meeting was attended by top policymakers, state mission directors, technical experts, and other development partners with the aim of discussing the high-level roadmap of the next phase of SBM-G. The workshop, with its subjects as diverse as equity of access to sanitation to climate risk incorporation into infrastructure design, was a culminating space to update on progress, to exchange innovation, and to ensure that no one is left behind. This article is a synopsis of the main reflections and policy issues discussed at the workshop and the goals achieved through teamwork that will set the future of rural sanitation in India, a future that is based on dignity, resilience and sustainable development.
Contextualizing SBM-G
The Swachh Bharat Mission- Grameen (SBM-G) was one of the paradigm shifts in the environmental sanitation sector in India, where it changed the behaviour of hygiene and scale of service delivery. Its development signifies institutional dedication and grassroots movements.
SBM-G Phase I: Inception and vision
SBM-G Phase I was anchored in a national effort whereby an appeal has been made to do away with open defecation and provide safe sanitation. It was launched in October 2014. The strategic approach embraced by the mission was the behaviour change-driven strategy with community-led total sanitation and massive awareness. Having a powerful political support and direct local planning, more than 600 million people have been provided with the sanitation infrastructure and almost 6 lakh villages have been recognized as Open Defecation Free (ODF) by 2019. This went to a new magnitude to show the promise of unified governance, citizen involvement, and extended engagements in the field.
Phase II, ODF to ODF Plus
Although the first phase established the basics, the second phase, which was implemented in 2020, continued the mission with sustainability targets relying on the ODF Plus framework. Behaviour change communication, solid and liquid waste management and toilet retrofitting were all stressed in this phase. Notably, it understood that the equity must be achieved by considering gendered and socially independent approaches in the sanitation planning. New pillars were introduced, such as climate resilience, conservation of water, and environmental sustainability.
Reacting to new Challenges
SBM-G Phase II recognizes that the new frontier is the need to correct the systemic problems of quality of services, maintenance of infrastructure and inadequate capacity across the Gram Panchayats. The mission aims at merging with Jal Jeevan Mission, MNREGA, and health schemes to create a comprehensive sanitation environment. Promoting climate-friendliness and social equity in policy structures is core to Phase II because to its citizens, India is not content with the creation of merely a toilet, but dignified, sustainable sanitation.
Workshop Overview
A strategic platform that has been collectively established is the National Rural Sanitation Workshop that was jointly organized between DDWS and UNICEF, which worked as a thread in unifying stakeholders and sharing in innovations.
Strategic Intent and Anchors
Hosted by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, with the cooperation of UNICEF India, the workshop was taking place on July 2, 2025, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The purpose of the event was to evaluate SBM-G Phase II progress and recalibrate the inclusive, resilient, and sustainable strategy in regard to rural sanitation. It highlighted the government's pledge to equality, adaptability to climate and oversight by locals in providing sanitation.
High-level Involvement and Leaders' Key Interests
The workshop pooled various stakeholders, which included senior government officials, directors of state missions, development partners, technical experts and civil society representatives in great numbers. Their observations were concerned with integrated planning, climate resiliency and the sense of ownership by communities in sanitation systems.
Form and Theme
The workshop was organized in terms of discussions and technical presentations. Major focus was on the inclusive sanitation, climate-resilient infrastructure and the relevance of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to the topic. Two technical publications were introduced, which provide advice on climate-smart sanitation and universal service delivery. An exclusive panel organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj gave stress on how more than 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats are involved in drafting thematic development plans.
Core Themes and Big Findings
The National Rural Sanitation Workshop highlighted the changed priorities of SBM-G Phase II with an important focus on inclusive access, climate resilience and sustainable governance, as the pillars of the Indian rural sanitation revolution.
Embracive Sanitation
One of the takeaways of the workshop was the message to leave no one behind. There were talks on the need to meet the sanitation requirements of the marginalized individuals, such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, and persons with disabilities. Respondents stressed upon such aspects as gender-sensitive infrastructure, easy-to-reach toilet design and specific outreach to make sure that everyone is safe and honoured. The introduction of inclusive sanitation guidelines was a major gain in institutionalizing equity in the planning of rural sanitation.
Climate Resilience
Climate variability and its effects on rural infrastructure have become a feature; hence, the concern in the workshop was to integrate climate risk appraisal in sanitation systems. In the technical sessions, new tools and frameworks were presented on designing flood-resilient toilets, managing grey water, and raising circular sanitation models. Two technical publications were launched, which provide operational advice on practice-oriented measures to make sanitation climate-adaptive. Advisors made it clear that resilience is a matter of need rather than a matter of indulgence in the light of the worsening climate conditions in the environment.
Sustainability and local governance
Sustainability was identified as an inter-sector priority, whereby the decentralization of power in the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) also received the emphasis. Based on their thematic development plans in the form of institutionalizing sanitation gains, more than 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats are being readied, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj led a session on this issue. The enablers of a long term impact have been revealed as capacity building, convergence supporting other rural schemes and community-led monitoring. It was a matter of stressing that the sanitation success has to be locally owned and contextual.
The launch of SSG-2025
The initiation of Swachh Survekshan Grameen-2025 was a significant event in the rural sanitation progression in India and reaffirmed the government's focus on data-driven governance and long-term ODF Plus results in SBM-G Phase II.
Formal Introduction and Long-term Plan
Swachh Survekshan Grameen (SSG) 2025 was formally launched by the Union Minister of Jal Shakti in New Delhi. India's largest rural sanitation survey will evaluate and rate the performance of States, Union Territories, and districts as well on the basis of sanitation indicators as agreed in the SBM-G Phase II. The Minister made a point that Swachhata is a journey, not a destination, and long-term community involvement and innovation are necessary.
Methodology and Framework of Surveys
The 21,000 villages across 761 districts in States and UTs and a systematic survey structure elaborated by DDWS, will be covered in the SSG 2025. Transparency and credibility by field verification, geo-fenced data collection, and real-time monitoring by an independent agency are carried out. The survey covers four major elements: service-level improvement, direct monitoring of the sanitation conditions, functionality of infrastructure and citizen response. Such a multi-dimensional approach will provide a comprehensive view of the ground level achievements and concerns in regard to sanitation.
Building Strength of Communities
Other than rankings, SSG 2025 shall create Jan Bhagidari a movement led by people to achieve sanitation. It deploys Swachhagrahis, District training management units and local governance systems to develop capacity and facilitate behaviour change. Several of the best practices that have been found throughout the country have been included in the newly released Swachhata Chronicles Volume III that was also released during the launch. With the help of technology, transparency, and interactivity, SSG 2025 puts in place an improved and more resilient sanitation ecosystem that is more inclusive.
The Workshop voices
The National Rural Sanitation Workshop shared a spirit of renewed determination to entrench more of inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability in rural sanitation. Reflective input and future momentum came in the form of voices in the field and leadership.
Leadership Framing the Future
Secretary DDWS Shri Ashok KK Meena said that sanitation is not a matter of infrastructure but about dignity, equity and sustainability. His words acted as the prelude to a people-based design that strengthened the position taken by the government on climate adaptation and an inclusive process. The Chief of WASH & CCES of UNICEF India, Karina Malczweska, said that it was time to move beyond safe sanitation toward climate-resilient and future-ready sanitation systems, as part of a wider sustainable development agenda.
Operational Insights: Grass-Roots Viewpoints
Addressing the workshop, Shri Kamal Kishore Soan, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, SBM-G, explained that the workshop provided an opportunity for “reflection and recalibration,” where he advised the states to strive to achieve the optimum balance. He emphasized that sanitation systems should become resilient with the heightened climate risks..
Challenges and the Way Forward
Nevertheless, even with the great current achievements within SBM-G, the future ahead is riddled with multidimensional problems that require adaptive behaviour and long-term commitment.
Unrelenting Gaps and Risks on the Horizon
Among the most dominant challenges is the maintenance of infrastructure capability, as well as the attainment of quality services in different surroundings. Toilet retrofitting, poor waste management structures and seasonal water shortage are some of the challenges that continue to challenge many rural settings. Moreover, disruptions on the climate like floods and droughts, are a threat to sanitation systems, particularly in areas at risk.
Community Ownership and Behaviour Change
Although the infrastructure has been increased, the transformation of behaviors is not equal. To maintain hygiene during forestalling and mainly amongst the newly covered households, continuous information, education and communication activities at local level and school-based interventions would be needed. The creation of ODF Community-ownership culture at the community level will help avert slippage in ODF status.
The Monitoring, Financing and Convergence
Restrictions to the financial budget and disparate departmental implementation are the main constraints of integrated sanitation planning. The Jal Jeevan Mission, MNREGA, and health programs need to be reinforced. In addition to this, there must be strong monitoring and evaluation systems to follow progresses and be accountable and make adjustments.
The Bright Future
The future demands the climate-smart, inclusive and decentralized sanitation systems. The long-term one will become sustainable due to the necessity to empower Gram Panchayats, utilize digital tools, and promote innovation. Setting aside the resolve and with long-term planning, SBM-G would become an example of spirited rural establishment.
Conclusion
Possibly, one of the most influential events in the history of rural sanitation in India was the National Rural Sanitation Workshop which was co-hosted by DDWS and UNICEF. It further reinstated the government determination in moving towards scaling of inclusive, resilient and sustainable sanitation solution in the context of SBM-G Phase II. Ranging from equity in access and inculcation of climate resilience to Gram Panchayat empowerment and introduction of data-driven instruments such as SSG 2025, the workshop provided basic support to responsive and flexible sanitation ecology. On the road to Viksit Bharat for the universal sanitation, infrastructure and investment are must for India. It will also require behaviour change, innovation and collaborative governance. Rooted in local ownership and inclusive design, SBM-G can transform a successful mission to a long-standing movement, one that would not only admire dignity, keep the population healthy, but ensure the rural resilience of future generations.