As India marked its 79th Independence Day, the Government of India continued its tradition of honoring grassroots leaders who have brought transformative change to rural areas. Rajasthan had a proud moment as three village sarpanches from the state were invited as special guests to witness the Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi.

These sarpanches represent top-performing gram panchayats that have been declared ODF Plus under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Gramin (SBM-G) and certified as Har Ghar Jal under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Their villages stand as models of sanitation, safe water access, community leadership, women’s empowerment, and environmentally sustainable development.

This year, 85 sarpanches from 26 states and union territories were invited as special guests—a major step in recognizing their critical role in driving rural transformation and community well-being.

Among the invitees was Mrs. Kusum Singh, elected sarpanch of Rarh Gram Panchayat in Bharatpur district’s Deeg block. A postgraduate in M.Sc. Nursing, Mrs. Singh combines academic excellence with deep social engagement. Under her leadership, Rarh became Rajasthan’s first digitally enabled gram panchayat, the block’s first ODF Plus village, and the district’s first to achieve the same status. She spearheaded the creation of a digital library, panchayat learning center, CCTV surveillance, solar infrastructure, and the first rural astro lab—sparking scientific curiosity among village children. The Jal Jeevan Mission has now ensured piped water to every household. Her commitment to self-reliance, women’s empowerment, and technological inclusion has earned district, state, and national honors, including recognition from UNICEF.

Also honored was Mrs. Geeta Devi Mohanram Patel, 32, sarpanch of Chali Gram Panchayat in Jodhpur district. Holding a B.Sc. in Fashion Design, she brings creativity, youthful energy, and strategic vision to governance. Facing acute water scarcity, she facilitated a 3-kilometer pipeline under the Jal Jeevan Mission, ensuring safe drinking water in every home. Chali is now a model of cleanliness and sustainability, with a ban on single-use plastics, household waste collection, and a plastic waste management center. She also oversaw the construction of community toilets, soak pits, vermicompost units, an open-air gym, a digital library, and an attractive panchayat building. Her leadership has won multiple accolades, including the Swachh Bharat Gramin District Sanitation Award (2024) and the District Sanitation Award (2025) on National Panchayati Raj Day.

The third invitee, Mrs. Rekha Bai, 39, is sarpanch of Gadepan village in Sultanpur block of Kota district. She has led sanitation drives focusing on infrastructure, street lighting, and water conservation. Recognized during the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign in 2024, she has also effectively utilized MGNREGA to lead numerous rural development works, from Anganwadi centers to health and sports facilities.

Their presence at the Red Fort reflects national recognition of community-led rural transformation, where safe water, secure sanitation, and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Their achievements under SBM-G and the Jal Jeevan Mission show that villages can lead with dignity and innovation.

To mark Independence Day, the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, is also running the “Har Ghar Tiranga, Har Ghar Swachhata” campaign, promoting national pride alongside the Prime Minister’s vision of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) for every rural household.

Source: