“Sarpanch Samvaad has shown how digital platforms can unite and empower them to share solutions that matter at the grassroots.” – Shri C. R. Patil
The Quality Council of India (QCI), in collaboration with the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Ministry of Panchayati Raj, organised the Sarpanch Samvaad National Quality Conclave at 1QCI, World Trade Centre, New Delhi, centred on the theme ‘Viksit Gram se Viksit Bharat’.
The conclave was inaugurated by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, in the presence of distinguished dignitaries including Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj; Shri Ashok K. K. Meena, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti; and Shri Jaxay Shah, Chairperson, QCI.
This landmark event celebrated the successful onboarding of over 60,000 Sarpanchs from across India onto the Sarpanch Samvaad mobile application, creating a first-of-its-kind digital community of grassroots leaders. The conclave also brought together 75 distinguished Sarpanchs from 22 states, who had engaged in a workshop the previous day to deliberate on five thematic areas drawn from the Localised Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).
In his inaugural address, Shri C. R. Patil emphasised that “Sarpanch Samvaad has shown how digital platforms can unite and empower grassroots leaders to share solutions that matter. Our next goal is to bring all 2.5 lakh Sarpanchs onto this platform, so that every village can progress together on the pillars of Swachhata and Suraksha, driving India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.”
Sharing his perspective, Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, underscored the importance of capacity building and stated, “Through e-governance and ICT tools like E-Gram Swaraj, PAI, and Sabha Saar, the Ministry is working to strengthen grassroots governance. To build truly Viksit Gram Panchayats, we must empower Village Water and Sanitation Committees, adopt e-governance for transparency, and embed Gunvatta in every initiative.”
Reflecting on the occasion, Shri Ashok K. K. Meena, Secretary, DDWS, observed, “Sarpanch Samvaad is not just a digital platform—it is a movement to strengthen village leadership. By enabling knowledge exchange and peer learning, it empowers Sarpanchs to make their villages Open Defecation Free, Swachh, and Sujal. Technology, quality assessment, and digital governance are key to achieving this vision.”
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jaxay Shah, Chairperson, QCI, said, “Today, we have connected over 60,000 Sarpanchs through this initiative, but our journey does not stop here. I have set a goal for my team to connect an additional 75,000 Sarpanchs by this October, and to reach 1,00,000 Sarpanchs by the birth anniversary of our beloved former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.”
The conclave also marked a significant milestone with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DDWS and QCI, demonstrating their shared commitment to advancing water and sanitation-led development at the grassroots level.
A key outcome of the conclave was the announcement of the 100-Day Good Governance Challenge, to be rolled out on the Sarpanch Samvaad mobile application from 17 September 2025 to 25 December 2025 (Good Governance Day). This challenge will mobilise Sarpanch-led campaigns nationwide, reinforcing Panchayats’ role as catalysts of national progress.
The event concluded with reflections from participants and a commitment to documenting and disseminating best practices through the Sarpanch Samvaad mobile application, ensuring continuous peer learning and sustained momentum in Panchayat-led development.
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