A two-day State-Level Orientation Programme on Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 2.0 was organized by the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee – National Institute of Water & Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS) Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, and the State Rural Employment Society (SRES) under the Community & Rural Development Department, Government of Meghalaya at State Convention Centre. The main aim of the workshop is to orient all officials of the State SBM-G team on enhancing the capacities towards the programme which was much needed with the recent shift in the implementing Department from PHE Department to C&RD Department this workshop is a key intervention to leverage the programme implementation. At the inaugural session, the Chief Guest, Shri. A.T. Mondal, the hon’ble Minister i/c Community and Rural Development Department in his address spoke about the decision of the State Government to bring SBM-G under the C&RD Department which was much needed to transform the programme and to improve the interventions. He highlighted on the need to bring about convergence with other programmes such as MGNREGA and PMAY-G to ensure coverage of all the needy households in the rural areas as most of the agrarian community lives in the rural areas. He also stressed on the need to saturate Aadhaar coverage so that benefits are not being missed out especially for Centrally Sponsored Schemes where ABPS is mandated to eliminate duplicity. While appreciating the performance of the Department which is one of the major reasons for the shift in implementing Department, he congratulated and encouraged all participants to take the programme forward stating that the Department is at an advantage by virtue of being engaged in the community. Shri. Sampath Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary Community & Rural Development Department, while setting the context, spoke about the aims of the Department to bring about a change in the rural population in addressing Multi-Poverty Dimension Index (MDP). Being at an advantage as the State Civil Service being at the service of the Department, he encouraged participants to be innovative and look beyond the guidelines. Led by the Mission Director Shri. Sibhi Chakravarthy Sadhu, IAS, the workshop was attended by Deputy Commissioners, Addl. Deputy Commissioners, Block Development Officers, Assistant Engineers and other State level officials from other Departments such as PHE, MSPCB. An in-depth two days’ workshop was planned covering all aspects from plans, technology involved and reporting/ monitoring and the upcoming survey to evaluate the performance. In addition to the team from SPM-NIWAS and MoJS, sessions were also provided online by Director MoPR and SBM-G West Bengal.