Latest news with #Swachhata
Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Chandigarh's ‘slum-free' claim: The real clean-up begins now
Written by RK Saboo As Swachh Bharat Abhiyan powers into its ambitious second phase, Chandigarh basks in the glory of being India's first officially 'slum-free' city. But beyond the spotless roads and freshly scrubbed reputation, the real question lingers: has the city truly lifted its most vulnerable residents into lives of dignity, safety and opportunity? Slum removal, after all, should not be the end of the story. It must mark the start of a new chapter — one where displaced families are not just shifted out but moved up, with better housing, education and prospects. Equally overlooked are the city's street vendors, who form its bustling, beating heart. Cleanliness drives, fines and mandatory registrations may tick the bureaucratic boxes, but without inclusive policies and alternate spaces for vendors to earn their livelihood, the city risks sweeping away their means of survival. Launched in October 2014 by the Prime Minister, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan began as a government programme but soon morphed into a people's movement. Chandigarh's slum-free status shines as a rare success story — proof of what determined planning, political will and citizen participation can deliver. Yet for the mission to ring true, every displaced family must feel part of that success. The larger Swachh Bharat journey has seen India achieve near-universal ODF (open defecation free) coverage in rural areas, while urban India is now tasked with becoming garbage-free and scientifically waste-managed by 2026. GPS-enabled apps like Swachhata are tightening transparency, and cities like Indore continue to lead the cleanliness rankings, powered by civic pride and innovation. For me, the mission is deeply personal. It was at the 2014 Chennai Rotary Institute that I led a dedicated Swachh Bharat session, culminating in the Chennai Declaration — a pledge to champion hygiene, dignity and cleanliness. Back home in Chandigarh, our small steps — office cleanliness drives — sparked ripples. Neighbouring offices joined in, schools followed, and children were inspired by stories of Japanese classrooms where students clean their own spaces with pride. Soon, the movement spilled onto the streets. Rotarian Salil Chopra and a determined band of Rotarians and Rotaractors hit the lanes, markets and pavements, armed with brooms, slogans and a simple message: cleanliness is everyone's responsibility. Human chains and striking visuals drew the public in; change became visible. Now, as Chandigarh transitions from a structurally planned city to a socially conscious, green city, the challenge deepens. Are the slum dwellers who were uprooted now living better, healthier lives? The real test of a 'slum-free' city is not the absence of jhuggis, but the presence of dignity for its poorest citizens. Urban development is more than sweeping away shanties; it's about ensuring every rehabilitated family lives in safety and hope. If Chandigarh can answer that question honestly, it may well lead India toward the ultimate vision of a Swasth Bharat, Sundar Bharat and Saksham Bharat — a nation that is not just clean, but caring, modern and humane. (RK Saboo is a former Rotary International president and a long-time advocate of civic responsibility and social development.)
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Operation Sindoor to feature in NCERT lessons for Classes 3 to 12
NCERT is preparing two 'modules' on Operation Sindoor – separate publications that will not be part of the textbooks – one for classes 3 to 8, and another for classes 9 to 12, sources in the Education Ministry said. The achievements of India and the armed forces will be described in the eight to 10-page module. The aim is to make students aware of India's military power and Pakistan's defeat, sources said. The NCERT has a set of modules – short publications on specific topics – including some that were launched in May this year. The modules for classes 1 to 12 are available on the NCERT's website. Separate modules have been prepared for COVID-19 and its impact on public health and social life, 'India's digital success and power', the Chandrayaan-3 mission, the G20 summit that was held in India in 2023, and 'Swachhata'. Each module contains stories, activities, and examples that illustrate the topic, and serves as additional material, beyond the textbook, that schools can use. Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces in May, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It was launched weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack in April. In the ongoing monsoon session, Parliament is set to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor next week.
New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Chandigarh's community-led sanitation drive earns it second place in Swachh Survekshan 2024
CHANDIGARH: The Union Territory of Chandigarh was adjudged the second cleanest city in the country in the category of cities with a population between 3 and 10 lakh at the ninth Swachh Survekshan 2024 annual awards, announced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. At a ceremony held in Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria and Chandigarh Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla. Kataria said, 'This national recognition reflects the collective spirit and resolve of Chandigarh towards Swachhata. Let us continue this journey with the same enthusiasm and strive to make Chandigarh the cleanest city in the nation.' He highlighted the role of Swachh Survekshan in empowering youth, creating green jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities, actively engaging Self Help Groups (SHGs), promoting school-level interventions, encouraging source segregation, startups and zero-waste societies, and organising public awareness events aligned with the vision of Swachh Bharat. He emphasised that sanitation and hygiene have become intrinsic to citizens' daily lives and are deeply rooted in their sanskar (values). Swachh Survekshan, he noted, has become a powerful competitive tool inspiring cities to innovate and perform better year after year. Babla said the city continues to set the benchmark in urban sanitation, reaffirming its status as one of the country's cleanest and most sustainable cities. She said that this recognition is a testament to the city's consistent top-tier performance in cleanliness and sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission. She further added that this is a great achievement and was accomplished only with the help of the citizens.
The Print
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Swachh Survekshan 2024-25: Indore named cleanest city for 8th time, Surat ranks 2nd
After Surat bagged the second spot, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said it was a victory for the people of Gujarat and thanked all sanitation workers and cleanliness ambassadors for their efforts in keeping the city clean. Gujarat's Surat secured the second position in the Super Swachh League category. Ahmedabad emerged as India's cleanest big city (population more than 10 lakh). Gujarat Minister Rushikesh Patel received the award on behalf of the government. New Delhi : Indore once again has been declared India's cleanest city, winning the top spot for the eighth year in a row in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. Surat secured the second position, while Navi Mumbai stood third. President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards in New Delhi on Thursday. Speaking to ANI, Harsh Sanghavi said, 'This is the victory of the people of Gujarat. The people of Gujarat have achieved this together. First of all, I would like to congratulate all those who work day and night, those who keep our city clean. I also extend my gratitude to all Swachhata ambassadors. I am grateful to them. Due to their hard work, Gujarat is leading in the Swachhata Survey today.' Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 marks the 9th edition of the world's largest urban cleanliness survey. This landmark event unveiled the cleanest cities of urban India, recognising the tireless efforts of cities driving the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) forward. This year, the prestigious awards were presented across 4 categories: a) Super Swachh League Cities, b) Top 3 clean cities in 5 population categories, c) Special Category: Ganga Towns, Cantonment Boards, SafaiMitra Suraksha, Mahakumbh, d) State Level Awards, Promising clean city of State/UT. A total of 78 Awards will be presented this year. Swachh Survekshan (SS), a landmark initiative under the SBM-U, has become a defining force in India's urban journey toward cleanliness, capturing hearts, shaping mindsets, and inspiring action over the past nine years. Starting with 73 ULBs in 2016, the latest edition now encompasses 4,500+ cities. This year, the awards not only celebrate the top Swachh Shehar but also recognise and encourage small cities showing strong promise and progress SS 2024-25 awards spotlight the theme of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Over 3,000 assessors conducted thorough inspections in every ward across the country over a 45-day period. With an unwavering commitment to inclusivity and transparency, the initiative encompassed the assessment of over 11 lakh households, reflecting a comprehensive and far-reaching approach to understanding urban living and sanitation on a national scale. The Assessment conducted in the year 2024 marked a landmark moment in public engagement, successfully reaching and involving 14 crore citizens who participated through face-to-face interactions, the Swachhata App, MyGov, and social media platforms. This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also read: Lucknow ranked 3rd cleanest city in latest Swachh Survekshan report, improves by 41 points
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Business Standard
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Indore named India's cleanest city for 8th time, Surat comes second
Indore once again has been declared India's cleanest city, winning the top spot for the eighth year in a row in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. Surat secured the second position, while Navi Mumbai stood third. President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards in New Delhi on Thursday. Gujarat's Surat secured the second position in the Super Swachh League category. Ahmedabad emerged as India's cleanest big city (population more than 10 lakh). Gujarat Minister Rushikesh Patel received the award on behalf of the government. After Surat bagged the second spot, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said it was a victory for the people of Gujarat and thanked all sanitation workers and cleanliness ambassadors for their efforts in keeping the city clean. Speaking to ANI, Harsh Sanghavi said, "This is the victory of the people of Gujarat. The people of Gujarat have achieved this together. First of all, I would like to congratulate all those who work day and night, those who keep our city clean. I also extend my gratitude to all Swachhata ambassadors. I am grateful to them. Due to their hard work, Gujarat is leading in the Swachhata Survey today." Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 marks the 9th edition of the world's largest urban cleanliness survey. This landmark event unveiled the cleanest cities of urban India, recognising the tireless efforts of cities driving the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) forward. This year, the prestigious awards were presented across 4 categories: a) Super Swachh League Cities, b) Top 3 clean cities in 5 population categories, c) Special Category: Ganga Towns, Cantonment Boards, SafaiMitra Suraksha, Mahakumbh, d) State Level Awards, Promising clean city of State/UT. A total of 78 Awards will be presented this year. Swachh Survekshan (SS), a landmark initiative under the SBM-U, has become a defining force in India's urban journey toward cleanliness, capturing hearts, shaping mindsets, and inspiring action over the past nine years. Starting with 73 ULBs in 2016, the latest edition now encompasses 4,500+ cities. This year, the awards not only celebrate the top Swachh Shehar but also recognise and encourage small cities showing strong promise and progress. SS 2024-25 awards spotlight the theme of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Over 3,000 assessors conducted thorough inspections in every ward across the country over a 45-day period. With an unwavering commitment to inclusivity and transparency, the initiative encompassed the assessment of over 11 lakh households, reflecting a comprehensive and far-reaching approach to understanding urban living and sanitation on a national scale. The Assessment conducted in the year 2024 marked a landmark moment in public engagement, successfully reaching and involving 14 crore citizens who participated through face-to-face interactions, the Swachhata App, MyGov, and social media platforms.
