Silchar bags ODF+ certification and GFC 1-star rating in Swachh Survekshan 2024

Way2barak, August 2 : In a notable milestone for urban sanitation and cleanliness in Barak Valley, the Silchar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has secured the prestigious ODF+ certification and a Garbage-Free City (GFC) 1-star rating in the Swachh Survekshan 2024 rankings affirming its steady rise in the national cleanliness index.

The achievement is a major boost to the civic body’s sanitation credentials, reflecting its consistent efforts to enhance solid waste management, public hygiene, and civic infrastructure. With a national ranking of 470 among urban local bodies across India, Silchar has become one of only four cities in Assam to earn the coveted GFC 1-star status underscoring its emergence as a cleaner and more sustainable urban centre.

The Government of Assam formally recognised SMC’s feat in a felicitation ceremony held recently, where Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah presented the official state mascot and a letter of appreciation to SMC Commissioner Sristi Singh, IAS.

The ceremony marked a moment of honour for the Silchar civic body, whose elevation from a municipal board to a corporation has now been matched by measurable improvements in its urban hygiene standards.

It is pertinent to mention here that Swachh Survekshan, conducted annually by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), is India’s largest urban cleanliness survey assessing the performance of cities in implementing the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). As part of the survey framework, urban local bodies voluntarily apply for ODF (Open Defecation Free) certifications ODF, ODF+, or ODF++ based on infrastructure, public toilet usage, fecal sludge treatment, and citizen feedback.

Notably,In the recent survey, an independent third-party assessment commissioned by MoHUA evaluated Silchar’s waste management systems, sanitation infrastructure, and cleanliness efforts. The results validated SMC’s eligibility for the ODF+ certification and its position on the national leaderboard.

Speaking on the achievement, newly appointed SMC Commissioner Sristi Singh, IAS, expressed pride in the collective efforts of the municipal team. “It is a matter of pride and a testament to the consistent work put in by the SMC team that we have been given a 1-star GFC rating in the Swachh Survekshan. Each one of us should take this as motivation to stride towards making our city cleaner, greener, and more accessible to our citizenry,” she added.

From intensified cleanliness drives to improved public sanitation facilities and community engagement, the journey of Silchar from a municipal board to a nationally recognized civic body marks a transformative chapter in its urban development story. The SMC now looks ahead with renewed resolve to scale up its efforts toward earning higher GFC ratings in the coming years.