Page 12 - MGMG July- December 2023

crucial cleanliness parameters. This led to the conceptualization and implementation of Swachh
Survekshan (SS), the annual cleanliness survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing & Urban
Affairs (MoHUA) that has, over time, emerged as the largest urban sanitation survey in the world.
The Swachh Survekshan framework has evolved continuously from being just a monitoring
framework measuring outcomes. It has become an implementation accelerator enabling sustainability
of outcomes by institutionalizing ‘Swachhata’. Swachh Survekshan has been able to significantly
transform the urban governance mechanism by incorporating speed, scale and agility at its core.
Improvement in terms of Urban Sanitation and Behavioral Change led by Swachh Survekshan
Swachh Survekshan has earned global credibility and now considered as a benchmark for other
national level surveys. A radical change has been witnessed in the urban sanitation scenario in India.
Cities, streets, have become visibly cleaner besides being ‘Open Defecation Free’, and there has been
a positive behavioral change in the mindset of citizens towards ‘Swachhata’.
While the triangulated approach of the survey (service level progress, certifications and citizens’
voice) coupled with third party certifications has lent credibility to the assessment process. Survey
data resulted in better decision making by government authorities also helped them to identify and
solve sanitation and waste management issues in a time-bound manner.

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