The Quality Council of India (QCI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Jal Shakti, celebrated Panchayati Raj Diwas with a special programme themed ‘Leadership for Swachh & Sujal Grams’, emphasising the role of sarpanchs in transforming rural India.

Organised under QCI’s Sarpanch Samvaad initiative, the event brought together over 200 sarpanchs, policymakers, experts, and senior officials from across the country. It served as a platform to showcase grassroots innovations, facilitate peer learning, and align panchayat-level efforts with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Paatil, lauded the initiative, stating that Sarpanch Samvaad enables village leaders to voice ground realities directly to the ministry. He urged sarpanchs to lead by example in making their villages clean (Swachh) and water-secure (Sujal) through measures like rainwater harvesting, reinforcing that “the voice of Bharat begins at the village and must echo at the top.”

The day-long event featured discussions on water security, sanitation sustainability, and the roadmap toward building Swachh & Sujal Grams, with active participation from sarpanchs nationwide.

The event was attended by key dignitaries, including Shri Ashok K.K Meena (Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation), Shri Jaxay Shah (Chairperson, QCI), Shri Chakravarthy T. Kannan (Secretary General, QCI), and Shri Himanshu Patel (Co-opted Member, QCI Governing Body).

(PIB)