New Delhi: Chhattisgarh has yet again made it as India’s cleanest state in the nationwide annual cleanliness survey. The state was declared India’s cleanest state for the third time in a row by the central government on Saturday. Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel received the award from President Shri Ram Nath Kovind in a program organized at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi today morning.
Apart from recognition in the state category, 67 urban bodies of the state have also been conferred awards in various categories for their excellent performance. Raipur Mayor Ejaz Dhebar, Ambikapur Mayor Ajay Tirkey, Bhilai Charoda Mayor Chandrakant Mandle, Bilaspur Mayor Ramsharan Yadav, Chirmiri Mayor Kanchan Jaiswal, Raigarh Mayor Janki Amrit Katju, Korba Mayor Rajkishore Prasad, Rajnandgaon Mayor Hemasudesh Deshmukh, Durg Mayor Dheeraj Bakliwal as well as Municipal Commissioner, Municipality President, Chief Municipal Officer, Nodal Officers were also conferred awards under various categories.
Engagement of Swachta Didis, employement of SHGs, implementation of Narva-Garwa-Ghurva-Bari program, has traversed the state to emerge as the cleanliest state. In the 2020, Chattisgarh was adjudged as country’s first (open defecation free) ODF++ state under urban category while 62 villages in the rural areas of the state were ranked second in ODF plus category under Swachh Bharat Mission. Apart from CM Baghel, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State Kaushal Kishor were also graced the event.