Parliamentary Committee Reviews Swachh Bharat Mission Progress, Emphasizes Urban Sanitation

Parliamentary Committee Meeting on Swachh Bharat Mission Progress, Emphasis on Urban Sanitation

NEW DELHI | August 25, 2026. The 24th meeting of the 'Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs' concluded at Committee Room-B of the Parliament House Annexe (PHA) in New Delhi. Mrs. Maya Narolia, a Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh, participated in this significant meeting.

The primary objective of the meeting was to conduct a thorough evaluation of the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) in the country and the progress achieved to date. During the meeting, senior representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs presented detailed information on various aspects of the mission.

The discussion centered on further strengthening the existing sanitation systems in urban areas and reviewing the steps being taken to make cities clean and attractive. Various important issues were deliberated upon with the aim of ensuring a better clean environment for citizens.

MP's Emphasis on Urban Sanitation and Quality of Life

Addressing the meeting, Rajya Sabha MP Mrs. Maya Narolia highlighted that continuous efforts are being made to make the country's urban areas clean, beautiful, and world-class. She stressed the immense importance of effective implementation and regular review of the sanitation schemes run by the central government.

This will ensure that the benefits of these schemes reach the last citizen effectively. Mrs. Narolia further stated that clean and well-planned cities not only enhance the quality of life for their residents but also strengthen the nation's overall development image. She also underscored the significant contribution of sanitation to the country's development.

Need to Accelerate Sanitation Efforts

The meeting particularly emphasized the need to further accelerate ongoing efforts related to urban sanitation. Officials were instructed to work effectively at the ground level to achieve the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission in a time-bound manner. The necessity of working in conjunction with the ministry was also discussed.

The Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on October 2, 2014, aimed to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF). It focused on expanding sanitation facilities and behavioral change in both rural and urban areas. Currently, the second phase of the mission (Urban) is focused on sustaining ODF status and strengthening solid and liquid waste management, with the goal of making cities more sustainable and livable.