President Murmu Presents Swachh Survekshan 2025 Awards: Calls for Clean India by 2047

New Delhi – President of India, Droupadi Murmu, presented the prestigious Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024-25 in a ceremony organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in New Delhi on July 17, 2025. The event marked the recognition of India’s cleanest cities and urban local bodies (ULBs) that have demonstrated exceptional performance under the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban.

In her address, the President commended the remarkable transformation India has achieved in the field of cleanliness. She said that Swachh Survekshan has evolved into the world’s largest cleanliness survey, gaining international recognition for its scope and citizen engagement. The 2024 edition saw participation from over 14 crore citizens, thousands of ULBs, and proactive involvement from state governments, making it a truly people-led initiative.

The President emphasized that cleanliness is deeply embedded in India’s cultural and spiritual traditions. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, who said “Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” she reiterated that sanitation has always been an essential part of Indian values and social behavior. Recalling her early years in public life, she mentioned serving as Vice President of the Notified Area Council, where she personally monitored daily sanitation efforts at the grassroots level.

A key theme of the President’s speech was the relevance of circular economy principles. She noted that minimizing waste, conserving resources, and maximizing reuse and recycling are not new to India, especially in tribal and rural communities. These communities have traditionally practiced sustainable living, using resources judiciously and living in harmony with nature. She urged the nation to reconnect with this ancient wisdom to build modern, efficient waste management systems.

The President also spoke about the crucial role of source segregation in the waste value chain, stating that every citizen must understand and implement it at the household level. She praised initiatives like zero-waste colonies that are pioneering sustainable models and setting new benchmarks for urban living. She particularly welcomed the School Level Assessment initiative, saying it will instill the habit of cleanliness in young minds and yield lasting national benefits.

Touching upon emerging environmental threats, she raised concern over plastic and e-waste pollution. She urged strict implementation of the ban on single-use plastic and encouraged producers to adhere to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines. She stated that the responsibility of maintaining a clean India must be shared by citizens, industries, and governments alike.

In her closing remarks, the President said that cleanliness is not just a civic responsibility but also an economic, environmental, and moral obligation. She expressed confidence that with sustained citizen participation and technological innovation, India is on the right path to becoming one of the cleanest and most sustainable countries by 2047, coinciding with the vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India).