What is the 100-day 'Swachh Shehar Jodi' Initiative for Urban Waste Management?
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Synopsis
Discover how the new 'Swachh Shehar Jodi' initiative is set to transform urban waste management across India. This bold step pairs 72 mentor cities with 200 mentee cities, fostering collaboration and the exchange of best practices. Will this initiative elevate sanitation standards in urban areas? Find out more!
Key Takeaways
- Launch of 'Swachh Shehar Jodi' initiative to enhance urban waste management.
- Collaboration between mentor and mentee cities for knowledge sharing.
- 100-day action plan focusing on milestones and experience transfer.
- Strategic support from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
- Future evaluation through Swachh Survekshan 2026.
New Delhi, Sep 27 (NationPress) The Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, has officially unveiled the 'Swachh Shehar Jodi' (SSJ) initiative aimed at assisting 200 cities in enhancing urban waste management, according to an official announcement made on Saturday.
SSJ strategically pairs 72 exemplary “mentor” cities with around 200 lower-ranked “mentee” cities, creating a comprehensive mentorship framework.
According to the statement, “The SSJ initiative marks a significant step forward in structured mentorship within the urban waste management domain, focusing on sharing knowledge and expertise, fostering peer learning, and implementing best practices in sanitation and waste management across urban India.”
The SSJ initiative will facilitate a direct pairing of mentor and mentee cities, allowing them to gain firsthand experience from high-performing cities to adopt their best practices.
A national event held in Sonipat saw the gathering of state urban development ministers, mayors, commissioners, and senior officials who signed memoranda of understanding for this sanitation and waste management initiative that is set to unfold over the next 100 days.
Throughout this period, each mentor-mentee duo will collaboratively devise action plans with specific milestones, emphasizing knowledge transfer and experience sharing, as highlighted in the release.
“SSJ serves as a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, mentoring, and support. The goal is clear: each mentee city should enhance their swachhata outcomes by learning from the best cities,” stated S Katikithala, Secretary of MoHUA.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will provide strategic guidance and policy-level support to facilitate the effective execution of the Swachh Shehar Jodi across various states. This initiative aligns with the capacity-building efforts under the Swachh Bharat Mission, as indicated by the ministry.
Nearly 300 MoUs have been signed nationwide, establishing a proactive platform for mentoring, knowledge sharing, and support, which will be assessed in the upcoming Swachh Survekshan 2026 survey, as noted in the release.
Point of View
The 'Swachh Shehar Jodi' initiative represents a significant shift in urban waste management strategies. By fostering collaboration between high-performing and lower-performing cities, it underscores the importance of collective growth and shared learning. This approach not only enhances sanitation outcomes but also strengthens community engagement in achieving national cleanliness goals.
NationPress
27/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main objective of the 'Swachh Shehar Jodi' initiative?
The main objective of the 'Swachh Shehar Jodi' initiative is to improve urban waste management by pairing 72 mentor cities with 200 mentee cities, facilitating knowledge sharing and best practice replication.
How long will the initiative run?
The initiative is set to run for 100 days, during which mentor-mentee pairs will develop action plans and milestones.
Who signed the memoranda of understanding for this program?
State urban development ministers, mayors, commissioners, and senior officials gathered at a national event to sign the memoranda of understanding for the program.
What is the role of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in this initiative?
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will provide strategic direction and policy-level support to ensure the effective implementation of the initiative across states.
How will success be evaluated?
The success of the initiative will be evaluated in the upcoming Swachh Survekshan 2026 survey.
