President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards for 2023, recognizing Indore and Surat as the cleanest cities in the country with populations exceeding one lakh, with Indore securing this distinction for the seventh consecutive time.
Navi Mumbai claimed the third position in the same category. In the cities with populations below one lakh, Sasvad, Patan, and Lonavala secured the top three spots. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh were acknowledged as the first, second, and third cleanest states, respectively. Varanasi and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh were recognized as the Cleanest Ganga Towns.
President Murmu commended the extensive participation in the survey, emphasizing the Swachh Survekshan’s role in elevating cleanliness standards. She praised collective efforts in advancing the nation towards ‘Cleanliness to Prosperity’ and highlighted the pivotal role of cleanliness campaigns in creating economic opportunities for women.
Acknowledging the frontline contribution of Safai Mitras, President Murmu expressed satisfaction with measures taken to ensure their safety, dignity, and welfare. She emphasized the importance of mechanized cleaning to eliminate manholes, stressing its role in societal progress.
President Murmu commended the focus on circularity in waste management, expressing confidence in its efficacy for sustainable development. She advocated a holistic perspective on waste, encouraging innovative solutions like generating biogas from green waste and producing electricity from refuse-derived fuel.
President Murmu called upon the youth as key stakeholders, urging them to champion the goal of making India the cleanest country globally. She envisioned India celebrating its centenary of independence in 2047 as one of the cleanest nations if the youth committed to cleanliness.
Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted the extensive scope of the survey, covering one lakh sites in 4,447 cities and receiving responses from twelve crore citizens. He emphasized the substantial increase in waste processing, from 15 to 16 percent in 2014 to the current 76 percent.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed pride in the state’s achievements, securing the third position in the state category with 67 awards since the inception of the Swachh Survekshan Award in 2017.
– Ranu Jain