Swachh Survekshan Awards

The Swachh Survekshan Awards, which will be presented by the President of India, are part of the ongoing efforts to promote cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation across the country's cities and towns. These awards are a key component of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) and are organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), in partnership with the Quality Council of India (QCI).

Highlights of the Swachh Survekshan Award:

1. Annual Cleanliness Survey:

   • The Swachh Survekshan is an annual survey that evaluates the cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation across cities and towns in India.

   • It is an important part of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U).

2. Award Categories:
   This year, the awards will be presented across four categories:

   • Super Swachh League Cities: A special category for cities excelling in cleanliness, featuring a select group of cities.

   • Top 3 Clean Cities in five population-based categories:

     • Very Small Cities (< 20,000 population)

     • Small Cities (20,000 – 50,000 population)

     • Medium Cities (50,000 – 3 Lakh population)

     • Big Cities (3 – 10 Lakh population)

     • Million-Plus Cities (> 10 Lakh population)

   • Special Categories:

     • Ganga Towns: Towns located along the Ganga River.

     • Cantonment Boards: Military cantonments.

     • SafaiMitra Suraksha: For the welfare of sanitation workers.

     • Mahakumbh: For cities that host the Mahakumbh, a significant religious event.

   • State Level Awards: For the most promising clean city from each State/UT.

3. Total Number of Awards:

   • A total of 78 awards will be presented in various categories this year.

4. Evaluation Criteria:
   The Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 will use a smart and structured approach to assess urban cleanliness, focusing on 10 well-defined parameters with 54 indicators. These indicators cover various aspects of sanitation and waste management across cities, offering a comprehensive view of their cleanliness efforts.

5. Introduction of Super Swachh League (SSL):

   • The SSL is a new addition to the awards this year, recognizing cities that have consistently ranked in the top three for the last three years and remain in the top 20% of their population category.

   • The SSL's dual purpose:

     • To encourage top-performing cities to maintain high standards.

     • To motivate other cities to improve and compete for better rankings.

6. Classification by Population Size:
   For the first time, cities will be classified into five distinct population categories, allowing cities to compete more fairly based on their population sizes.

Key Highlights

• 78 Awards Presented: A total of 78 awards were conferred to cities, cantonments, and institutions that displayed exemplary performance across a broad range of sanitation parameters, promoting cleanliness and hygiene in urban areas.

• Top Cities in Urban Sanitation:

  • Indore: Retained its position as the cleanest city, securing 1st place.

  • Surat: Ranked 2nd in urban cleanliness.

  • Navi Mumbai: Secured the 3rd position.

  These three cities also dominated the newly introduced “Super Swachh League”, which celebrates cities that have sustained excellence in cleanliness over the years. Vijayawada followed closely in 4th position.

• Simplified Assessment Framework: This year, the assessment framework was redesigned to allow smaller cities to compete on an equal footing with the larger cities. The principle of “One City, One Award” was introduced, giving 34 smaller cities from across India the opportunity to shine. These cities were recognized as Promising Swachh Shehars, commended for their progress in sanitation.

• New Generation of Clean Cities: Cities like Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Lucknow emerged as leading Swachh Shehars, marking a new generation of cities that have demonstrated exceptional urban sanitation and cleanliness efforts.

• Best Ganga Town: Prayagraj was recognized for its achievements in cleanliness and sanitation along the Ganga. This award highlights the city’s role in ensuring clean and hygienic conditions along one of the most sacred and heavily trafficked rivers in the world.

• Best Cantonment Board: The Secunderabad Cantonment Board was acknowledged for its strong sanitation efforts, further emphasizing the importance of cleanliness in both urban and military settings.

• Safai Mitra Surakshit Shehars: This category highlights cities that prioritize the safety, dignity, and welfare of sanitation workers. Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur were recognized in this regard.

• Special Award for Mahakumbh Waste Management: A special award was presented to the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the Prayagraj Mela Adhikari, and the Municipal Corporation of Prayagraj for the successful management of urban waste during the Mahakumbh. This was especially significant given the record 66 crore people that attended the event.

Significance of the Swachh Survekshan Awards:

• Promotes Healthy Competition: The awards motivate cities to continuously improve their sanitation practices, aiming for cleaner, healthier environments for their citizens.

• Enhances Accountability: By ranking cities based on their cleanliness standards, it encourages accountability at both the local and national levels.

• Supports Urban Sustainability: The survey also plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable urban development, focusing on waste management, sanitation infrastructure, and the overall quality of life in cities.

• Public Awareness: The awards help raise public awareness about the importance of cleanliness, hygiene, and the role of citizens and local authorities in maintaining a clean environment.

Conclusion:

The Swachh Survekshan Awards play a pivotal role in furthering the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan's objectives of ensuring a cleaner India.