Context:

During the Annual Clean City Award 2023, Surat in Gujarat and Indore in Madhya Pradesh were announced as the cleanest cities in the nation. 

Surat Surges to First-Time Victory in 2023-2024 Cleanliness Survey

• Clean City Award 2023 is  hosted by the Union Urban Affairs Ministry.

• Indore has been recognized as the cleanest city for the seventh consecutive time.
• Surat has been declared the cleanest city for the first time.

What is Swachh Survekshan? 

• It is an annual survey of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation in villages, cities and towns across India.
• It is a part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, specifically under SBA-Urban.

• It was Launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), with the Quality Council of India (QCI) as its implementation partner.The inaugural survey in 2016 covered 73 cities, expanding to 4,477 cities by the 2023 survey.
• The methodology for cleanliness assessment relies on two primary criteria: citizen feedback and field assessment.

Promoting Clean Living: Assessing, Inspiring, and Celebrating Cities in the Pursuit of Sanitation Excellence

• Evaluate and rank cities and towns based on cleanliness and sanitation practices.
• Encourage behavioral change for adopting cleaner and healthier practices.
• Identify and showcase best practices and innovations in sanitation and waste management.

Conclusion: Swachh Survekshan is a vital tool in assessing and promoting cleanliness and sanitation across cities and towns in India. However, there is a need to sort out all the problems associated with it. 

News Source: The Hindu