Finance
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26 in New Delhi today (November 11, 2026).
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that a single organization alone cannot achieve the goals of cleanliness. It requires the participation of every citizen, every household, every community, and every city. She underlined that cleanliness is not merely a matter of maintaining the aesthetic appeal of public spaces. It is also an indicator of our health, social consciousness, and administrative accountability. It is a reflection of our habits at home too.
The President said that every citizen, especially youth, women, Resident Welfare Associations and community organizations, should engage with various aspects of cleanliness. They should share their experiences and report any shortcomings, the resolution of which could help make our cities cleaner and healthier. This should foster an ongoing dialogue between the municipal administration and the citizens, thereby strengthening trust, transparency, and accountability.
The President said that citizens are the best judges when it comes to assessing the cleanliness of their surroundings. Therefore, the use of citizen feedback should not be limited merely to surveys or rankings. Instead, this feedback should serve as a vital tool for improving municipal services and addressing local challenges.
The President said that there is a need to develop effective, affordable and safe technologies in the field of sanitation. She was happy to note that various institutions, including several IITs and other scientific research organizations, are actively working in this direction.
The President noted that several startups have emerged in the sanitation sector. She said that such enterprises can contribute significantly toward solving real-world sanitation challenges while also creating employment opportunities.
The President said that there is a need to place special emphasis on enhancing the capacities of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, as these are the fastest-growing urban centers. They have distinct needs and challenges. Their development should take place within a national framework designed to address their specific problems and challenges. She said planners in Tier-2 cities can learn from the issues faced by Tier-1 cities, and to do so, they should study the experiences of planners in Tier-1 cities.
The Swachh Survekshan Awards, organized by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, honours India’s cleanest cities and recognizes their outstanding contributions to Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban.
Click here to see President’s speech in Hindi
Source: PIB
