President Murmu Presents Swachh Survekshan Awards, Calls For Action On Plastic Waste
Key Points
President Murmu presents Swachh Survekshan Awards, praises citizen participation.
Call to action on plastic waste control and student-led cleanliness initiatives.
Emphasis on circular economy, source segregation, and tribal sustainability practices.
New Delhi, July 17: President Droupadi Murmu presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards at a ceremony organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs here on Thursday, celebrating the achievements of cities and communities in advancing cleanliness across India.
Speaking on the occasion, President Murmu praised the Swachh Survekshan initiative as a successful experiment in evaluating and encouraging urban cleanliness. She highlighted that the 2024 edition of the survey was the world’s largest, involving participation from state governments, urban bodies, and over 14 crore citizens.
The President underscored India’s deep-rooted cultural and spiritual connection to cleanliness, citing Mahatma Gandhi’s belief that “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” She shared her personal journey, recalling her early public service days as Vice President of a Notified Area Council, where she supervised daily sanitation efforts.
President Murmu emphasized the importance of adopting circular economy principles such as reduce, reuse, and recycle, noting that tribal communities have long practiced sustainable living. She urged citizens to learn from these traditions to strengthen modern waste management systems.
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✨The President stressed that source segregation is the first and most vital step in the waste management value chain, calling on every household and stakeholder to prioritize it. The President also lauded the School Level Assessment initiative, which aims to instill cleanliness as a core value among students.
Addressing environmental challenges, Murmu pointed out the urgent need to control plastic and electronic waste. She referenced the 2022 ban on single-use plastics and the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility guidelines, urging producers and brand owners to comply fully.
President Murmu concluded by affirming that cleanliness efforts have cultural, economic, and environmental significance. She expressed confidence that with collective dedication, India will emerge as one of the cleanest nations by 2047.