Latest news with #SafaiMitra
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bhopal among 8 MP cities nominated for Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 honours
Bhopal: Eight cities from Madhya Pradesh—Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Dewas, Budni, and Shahganj—were nominated for national recognition under the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25, India's annual urban cleanliness survey conducted by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs, according to sources. While final rankings are yet to be officially announced, these cities were invited to participate in the award ceremony scheduled for July 17 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu. Each nominated city will send a 10-member delegation, including the mayor or chairperson, Commissioner or Chief Municipal Officer, sanitation nodal officers, Safai Mitra, and other key representatives. An online coordination meeting was held by the MP urban development department here on Saturday. In addition to the ceremony, officials will attend workshops on July 17 and 18. Madhya Pradesh has consistently performed well in Swachh Survekshan rankings. Indore retained the No 1 position for seven consecutive years, sharing the top spot with Surat in the most recent survey. Bhopal, the state capital, climbed to 5th place nationally and was recognised as the cleanest state capital. The state overall ranked second among India's cleanest states, following Maharashtra. MP has a strong focus on waste segregation, scientific disposal, and citizen engagement in cleanliness drives.
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Business Standard
03-07-2025
- General
- Business Standard
Lucknow, Pune, Indore ranked among India's top-performing municipal bodies
Municipal corporations of Lucknow, Pune, and Indore were recognized among the best-performing urban local bodies during the first national conference of ULBs held in Gurugram, Haryana on Thursday. At the National Level Conference of Urban Local Bodies of States and Union Territories in Gurugram's Manesar, public representatives and administrative officers from these cities shared their best practices with counterparts from other states, fostering a collaborative exchange of innovative urban development strategies. Lucknow highlighted initiatives such as the use of e-vehicles for waste collection in place of diesel or petrol-powered vehicles, establishment of high-capacity waste processing plants, and transformation of dumping sites into national inspiration points. Pune showcased its ward-wise waste collection systems, electricity generation through biogas plants, and integrated waste management techniques. Similarly, Indore presented successful models involving GPS-enabled garbage collection vehicles, the 'Safai Mitra' workforce, and active public participation in maintaining cleanliness. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan were among dignitaries who addressed the event. Lucknow Mayor Sushma Kharkwal said that the foundation of a developed India by 2047 rests on strong and efficient ULBs, where capable leadership and active citizen participation play a pivotal role. She said that despite a population of nearly 50 lakh, Lucknow has emerged as a zero-waste city. The city has also developed urban forests using the 'Miyawaki' method (effective tree planting methods for creating forest cover quickly) and deployed mechanical sweepers to clean roads. To boost eco-tourism, attractions like the Mango Museum Park and nature trails are being created, Kharkwal said. According to an official statement, Pune's waste management strategy, implemented since 2007, has significantly improved the quality of life for its residents. During the national conference, Pune Municipal Commissioner Puneet Raj and ward councillors presented impactful examples of waste collection and electricity generation from ward-level biogas plants. They also highlighted successful initiatives such as slum redevelopment projects, ?transformed into permanent housing following necessary policy amendments, ?and the adoption of the Light House project under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. A standout example of sustainable development is Pune's "tree ambulance" service and dedicated call centre for urban greenery maintenance. Additionally, the city has introduced smart water meters and launched the Swachh Cooperative initiative for effective solid waste management. Pune has also established 26 'Triple R' centres, where reusable items are made available to those in need. During a key session of the two-day national conference, Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava and Commissioner Shivam Verma's team shared the fundamental approach that has helped Indore retain its title as India's cleanest city. Addressing municipal representatives from across the country, they emphasized that cleanliness in Indore is not just a civic duty, ?it's a collective cultural mindset. Indore, which comprises 85 municipal wards, has successfully instilled a strong sense of ownership among its citizens toward keeping their homes, neighbourhoods, streets, and public spaces clean. This citizen-driven model is complemented by the dedication of Safai Mitras, who begin their duties every day at 6 am, playing a crucial role in implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on the ground, said the official statement. The city's sanitation operations are rigorously monitored by the local administration. Each waste collection vehicle is GPS-enabled, and delays as short as 10 minutes trigger immediate accountability measures for the driver concerned. This disciplined approach has resulted in the imposition of over Rs 1.5 crore in fines within a single year against those violating cleanliness norms. As part of the city's digital transformation, unique ID numbers and QR codes are being affixed to homes. Residents can scan these codes to access municipal services and receive important civic information. Additionally, to address traffic congestion, trained volunteers are engaging directly with citizens to promote traffic awareness and responsible road behaviour. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
04-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Women cycle miles to curb plastic pollution
1 2 Ranchi: A group of women, all members of self-help groups (SHGs) in two panchayats of Ormanjhi block on the outskirts of Ranchi district, pedal several kilometres every day to collect dry and plastic waste from at least 700-800 households in nine villages. They transport it to waste segregation centres with the sole goal of stopping the plastic pollution menace in their villages. The women brigade, roped in for waste collection by the Swachh Bharat Mission, Grameen (SBM-G) under the state drinking water and sanitation department, collects plastic bottles, papers, glass, metals, and other dry waste from the households. After segregating the waste at sheds, they sell the waste to a material recovery facility (MRF) set up in the Barwe panchayat of Ormanjhi. The SHG members, who did not have any sustainable source of income, are now earning a modest sum by selling the waste, along with promoting cleanliness in the villages. Poornima Devi, a Safai Mitra from Dahu village, said that she visits approximately 250–300 households each day, collecting 20–30 kg of dry waste. "I drive my tricycle-rickshaw across a 9.2 km route every day, ensuring the collected waste reaches the Barwe panchayat collection centre for further processing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Soluções confiáveis para centros de dados IA Siemens Energy Read More Undo I earn Rs 2,000-3,000 per week by selling the waste at the MRF," she added. In nine villages, eight women, Safai Mitras, are associated with household waste collection. The recovery facility was set up under the CSR activity of a private bank and the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) in partnership with the Ranchi district rural development authority (DRDA), the drinking water and sanitation department, and SBM-G. The MRF, operational since October last year, has collected over 100 tonnes of dry and plastic waste to date. Anjali Kumari, in charge of the facility, told TOI that their village has witnessed a visible transformation since the facility was set up. "Earlier, garbage piles could be found everywhere in the village, creating an unpleasant environment. But now all village roads are free of waste materials, and villagers have also been sensitised about plastic disposal," Anjali added. The initiative, mostly dominated by women, has prevented plastic waste from mixing with landfills and the burning of plastics, which pollutes the environment. Subeer Ranjan, project officer of CEE, who collaborates with the Jharkhand govt to run the MRF, said that efforts are underway to start a similar initiative across 39 panchayats and 120 villages of Ormanjhi and Angara blocks and nearby panchayats of Kanke block. Azad Hussain, state consultant of SBM-G, Jharkhand, said that three state departments — rural development, Panchayati Raj department, and the drinking water and sanitation department — are promoting cleanliness in the rural areas across the state. He added that the MRF centre in Ormanjhi is the biggest in the state, and such centres have been established across the state to curb the menace of plastic and other pollution.
