Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Bhupendra Patel has reaffirmed the state’s commitment to clean, inclusive, and sustainable urban development, as he felicitated 8 Municipal Corporations and 16 Municipalities with the prestigious Nirmal Gujarat Awards. The award ceremony, held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, was part of the Swachh Bharat Mission Chintan Shibir, where over Rs. 18.5 crore in incentive funds were distributed for exceptional cleanliness performance.
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Healthy Competition for Public Welfare, Aatmanirbhar Bharat at the Core
Mr. Patel noted that competitive public welfare schemes like the Nirmal Gujarat Mission are essential for grassroots transformation. He emphasized how initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan—inspired by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi—have now evolved into mass movements, transforming cleanliness from a campaign into a citizen-driven habit.
The Chief Minister also launched the logo of “Maru Sheher, Maru Gaurav Abhiyan” (My City, My Pride) to deepen civic pride and public participation in urban development initiatives.
Swadeshi Campaign from September 25 to December 25
In alignment with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Mr. Patel announced a new national initiative—the “Har Ghar Swadeshi” campaign—starting September 25 (birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya) and continuing until December 25 (100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee).
He urged all citizens to prioritize locally made products in daily life to strengthen India’s manufacturing sector under the Make in India initiative and help build a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) from a Viksit Gujarat.
Gujarat’s Clean Cities Lead National Rankings
Gujarat has once again proven to be a national leader in urban cleanliness. According to Chief Secretary Mr. Pankaj Joshi, the state moved up to third place in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings, with an average score of 8,100 out of 12,500 marks—a jump from last year’s 8th rank.
Mr. Joshi congratulated Ahmedabad, Surat, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara for their award-winning performance. A total of 26 cities in Gujarat have now received the “Garbage-Free City” certificate, further solidifying Gujarat’s position as a national benchmark in urban cleanliness.
Urban Infrastructure, Clean Energy, and Culture at the Forefront
The Chief Minister stated that during Urban Development Year, significant resources are being allocated to enhance infrastructure and public services. These efforts are being strategically planned to align with the Amrit Mahotsav celebrations of 75 years of Gujarat’s formation in 2035.
All awarded cities have been encouraged to adopt solar energy, waste management innovations, and cultural preservation through their municipal planning. This reflects Gujarat’s balanced approach to economic development, environmental responsibility, and cultural pride.
Chintan Shibir Focuses on Implementing Best Practices
At the one-day Chintan Shibir, officials and elected representatives were urged to take the ideas and successful practices discussed back to their respective regions. The state government, led by Mr. Patel, reiterated its commitment to financial and administrative support for Municipal Corporations and Municipalities to achieve better outcomes.
Top Officials Acknowledge Gujarat’s Cleanliness Success
Mr. M. Thennarasan, Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department, and Mr. M. Nagaraj, Director of the Swachh Bharat Mission, also addressed the gathering. They praised the continued leadership of Mr. Bhupendra Patel and emphasized that Gujarat is a model for how Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of cleanliness are being realized through modern governance.
The event was also attended by Gandhinagar Mayor Ms. Miraben Patel, Commissioner of Municipalities Administration Ms. Remya Mohan, and numerous municipal officials and staff.
