Field assessment of Swachh Survekshan launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Why in news?

• Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the 7^th consecutive edition of Swachh Survekshan (SS) 2022, the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey. It coincides with the celebrations of the 75^th year of India’s independence thus SS 2022 will focus on the theme of Azaadi@75 spirit.
• It is designed with ‘People First’ as its driving philosophy.

About Swachh Survekshan (SS) 2022:

• The survey has been initiated with around 3,000 assessors of Ipsos Research Pvt. Ltd., an Assessment Agency headquartered in Paris, France. In India, it is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Its scope has been expanded to cover 100% wards for sampling, as compared to 40% in previous years.
• It will look into the initiatives of cities for the overall welfare and well-being of frontline sanitation workers.
• SS2022 will also give priority to the feedback from senior citizens as a part of paying tribute to the wisdom of the elderly.
• Cities have been regularly filling in their data, updating their progress in the Swachhata Portal MIS (Management Information System) along with running several citizen centric campaigns in preparation of SS 2022.

New indicators added in SS2022:

• To commemorate the 75 years of progressive India, ULB’s (Urban Local Bodies) joined hands with citizens to identify at least one Chauraha /Roundabout in their respective cities that can be thematically decorated to showcase the spirit of the glorious 75 years of India’s independence.
• Another new indicator ‘Swachh Technology Challenge’, launched by MoHUA on December 6, 2021, has been added in SS 2022.
• As part of this challenge, individuals/organizations and start-ups submitted innovative solutions under four thematic categories, viz. social inclusion; zero dump (solid waste management); plastic waste management; and transparency through digital enablement, across all ULBs.
• For smaller cities, it introduces two population categories under 15K and between 15-25K.
• District rankings have also been introduced for the first time.

About Swachh Survekshan:

• Launched in 2016 by MoHUA as a competitive framework, it encourages cities to improve the status of urban sanitation with large scale citizen participation. It creates healthy competition among cities and towns of India.
• The survey was initiated with 73 cities which has grown to 4,320 cities in SS 2021, including 62 Cantonment Boards.