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Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil launched Swachh Seva Aankalan (SSA) on 15 September 2026 at a virtual meeting with States and UTs. MoS V. Somanna also attended.
SSA is an annual, digital self-assessment of rural sanitation service delivery, carried out at the Gram Panchayat level under Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (Phase II).
ODF Plus (Model) Gram Panchayats, their Village Water and Sanitation Committees and communities will assess ODF sustainability, visual cleanliness, solid and liquid waste management, and the upkeep of sanitation assets.
The Gram Sabha validates the findings. District and State Water and Sanitation Missions then review them to plan corrective action.
Let villages grade their own sanitation service delivery and flag gaps
Key: Annual and digital. The Gram Sabha validates results, which then feed district and State improvement plans.
Rural sanitation. Phase I (from 2 October 2014) targeted Open Defecation Free status
Key: Phase II, approved in February 2020, targets ODF Plus: sustained ODF plus solid and liquid waste management
Developed SSA; nodal department for SBM-G and Jal Jeevan Mission
Validates the self-assessment findings
Village body for water and sanitation planning. It takes part in the assessment.
Review findings, identify service gaps, prepare improvement plans
Gave Panchayats constitutional status. Article 243A lets the Gram Sabha exercise powers the State legislature assigns, which is the basis for Gram Sabha validation in SSA.
Lists 29 subjects that can be devolved to Panchayats, including drinking water (item 11) and health and sanitation (item 23).
GS Paper II > Government schemes; Panchayati Raj
General Awareness > Government Schemes
A village that keeps its ODF status and also manages solid and liquid waste and is visibly clean
Solid and Liquid Waste Management
Operation and maintenance: keeping sanitation assets working