Swachh Survekshan 2023

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched the eighth edition of Swachh Survekshan (SS) – SS 2023 under Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0. SS 2023 is curated towards achieving circularity in waste management. Swachh Survekshan was introduced by MoHUA in 2016 as a competitive framework to encourage cities to improve the status of urban sanitation while encouraging large scale citizen participation. Over the years, Swachh Survekshan has emerged as the largest Urban sanitation survey in the world.

In SS 2023, additional weightage has been given to source segregation of waste, enhancement of waste processing capacity of cities to match the waste generation and reduction of waste going to the dumpsites. Indicators have been introduced with additional weightage on emphasizing the need for phased reduction of plastic, plastic waste processing, encourage waste to wonder parks and zero waste events. The cities would also be assessed on dedicated indicators on the issues of ‘Open Urination’ (Yellow Spots) and ‘Open Spitting’ (Red Spots), being faced by the cities.

SBM-U 2.0 was announced in Budget 2021-22, as the continuation of SBM-U first phase. The government is trying to tap safe containment, transportation, disposal of fecal sludge, and septage from toilets. SBM-U first phase was launched on 2nd October 2014 aiming at making urban India Open Defecation Free (ODF) and achieving 100% scientific management of municipal solid waste. It lasted till October 2019.

It will be implemented over five years from 2021 to 2026 with an outlay of Rs.1.41 lakh crore.

The Mission is being implemented under the overarching principles of “waste to wealth”, and “Circular Economy”.

Aim:

• It focuses on source segregation of garbage, reduction in single-use plastic and air pollution, by effectively managing waste from construction and demolition activities and bioremediation of all legacy dump sites.
• Under this mission, all wastewater will be treated properly before it is discharged into water bodies, and the government is trying to make maximum reuse a priority.

Mission outcomes:

• All statutory towns will become ODF+ certified (focuses on toilets with water, maintenance and hygiene).
• All statutory towns with less than 1 lakh population will become ODF++ certified (focuses on toilets with sludge and septage management).
• Bioremediation of all legacy dumpsites.