Raipur, Bilaspur, and Bilha in Chhattisgarh have been selected for national awards under the Swachh Survekshan 2025-26, according to state officials. President Droupadi Murmu will confer the honours at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on 11 November, making it a landmark moment for the state's urban sanitation drive.

Three Cities, One Collective Achievement

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs formally communicated the selection to the Chhattisgarh state government. Officials attributed the recognition to sustained cleanliness campaigns, the dedication of sanitation workers — locally known as Safai Mitras — and active citizen participation across all three urban local bodies.

Notably, this is the tenth edition of the Swachh Survekshan, India's annual urban cleanliness ranking exercise. The theme for 2025-26 is 'New Initiatives for Cleanliness – Join Hands, Clean Together', underscoring collective civic responsibility and public awareness as core pillars of the assessment.

Safai Mitras to Receive Special Recognition

The awards ceremony will place particular emphasis on the contribution of sanitation workers. The Ministry has invited Safai Mitras to be part of state and city delegations, with four representatives from each of the three cities set to receive recognition on stage. This marks a deliberate effort to spotlight frontline workers who are often overlooked in civic achievement narratives.

Union Minister Manohar Lal and Minister of State Tokhan Sahu are also expected to attend the ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan.

What the Government Said

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated the citizens, public representatives, officials, and Safai Mitras of all three cities. He described the recognition as 'the fruit of hard work by thousands of Safai Mitras and the involvement of aware citizens,' adding that being honoured by the President is 'a matter of pride for the entire state.'

Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a 'true mass movement,' Chief Minister Sai affirmed that the state government remains committed to strengthening sanitation infrastructure across all cities in Chhattisgarh.

Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao also extended congratulations, noting that the national recognition of three cities from a single state reflects the success of collective efforts and would serve as inspiration for other municipal bodies in the state to raise their performance.

Context and Significance

The Swachh Survekshan, launched under the broader Swachh Bharat Mission, has grown into one of the world's largest urban sanitation surveys, covering hundreds of cities annually. Chhattisgarh's triple selection in the same edition signals a consistent upward trajectory in the state's urban cleanliness standards. Officials noted that the cooperation between citizens and local administration has been central to this progress — a model that other states are increasingly looking to replicate.

The ceremony on 11 November is expected to draw delegations from winning cities across the country, with Chhattisgarh's three-city haul positioning it among the better-performing states in this edition of the survey.