Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday received from President Ram Nath Kovind the national award after Chhattisgarh was judged the ‘Cleanest State’ in the country. The Swachh Amrit Mahotsav event took place in New Delhi.
Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), Chhattisgarh was also presented the best state award in ‘Safai Mitra Suraksha Challenge 2021’.
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Minister of State Kaushal Kishore and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang were present.
Chhattisgarh has secured the top rank in cleanliness for a third consecutive year (2019, 2020 and 2021). Apart from it, the state’s 67 urban bodies will also be rewarded for excellent performance, the highest number of urban bodies in any state.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister said: “Chhattisgarh has won the National award for the cleanest state for the third consecutive year. The credit goes to three and a half crore people of the state.
"I would especially like to give credit to the women of the state who have created a new culture of cleanliness from cities to villages.”
Chhattisgarh is the only state where more than 9,000 cleanliness ‘didis’ are collecting 1,600 tonnes of wet and dry waste from houses and scientifically disposing them off. The Centre has declared Chhattisgarh the first ODF plus state.
Raipur, Patan, Bhilai Charoda, Birgaon (M), Chirmiri, Bhatapara, Kawardha, Bemetara, Jashpur Nagar, Dipka, Dornapal, Chandrapur, Utai, Abhanpur are some of the cities which were awarded at the function in different categories.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs conducts annual cleanliness survey in all cities and states.