• President Droupadi Murmu presents Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26.
• Calls cleanliness an indicator of public health and administrative accountability.
• Urges citizens to use feedback to improve municipal sanitation services.
• Emphasises technology, startups and stronger sanitation systems in smaller cities.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th Nov: President Droupadi Murmu presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26 at a ceremony in New Delhi on Wednesday, recognising cities for their cleanliness initiatives and contributions to the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban.

Addressing the gathering, the President said cleanliness goes beyond maintaining the appearance of public spaces and reflects public health, social consciousness and administrative accountability. She emphasised that cleanliness must also become a regular practice within households and communities.

Murmu said achieving the goals of a cleaner India requires collective participation from citizens, households, communities and urban administrations. She called upon young people, women, Resident Welfare Associations and community organisations to actively participate in cleanliness initiatives, share their experiences and report shortcomings in municipal services.

The President stressed that citizen feedback should not remain limited to surveys and rankings. Instead, it should serve as a practical tool for improving municipal services and addressing local sanitation challenges.

She said regular interaction between citizens and municipal administrations could strengthen trust, transparency and accountability while helping cities identify and resolve gaps in cleanliness services.

Highlighting the role of technology, Murmu called for the development of effective, affordable and safe sanitation solutions. She noted that institutions, including IITs and scientific research organisations, were working in this field.

The President also highlighted the growing role of startups in the sanitation sector, saying such enterprises could help address practical challenges while generating employment opportunities.

She called for greater attention to the sanitation and infrastructure needs of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, which are among the fastest-growing urban centres. According to her, urban development planning must account for their specific requirements, while these cities can also learn from the experiences of larger metropolitan centres.

The Swachh Survekshan Awards are organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to recognise India’s cleanest cities and acknowledge their contributions to the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban.