Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 22 July 2025
In a significant recognition of its ongoing efforts towards cleanliness and sustainable urban living, Sri Vijaya Puram has been conferred with the “Promising Swachh Shehar” award under the Special Category in the 9th edition of the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. Themed around “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” this year’s national cleanliness survey was conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
The award was presented during a prestigious ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on July 17, 2025. Hon’ble Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs, Mr. Manohar Lal, handed over the award in the august presence of the Hon’ble President of India and senior officials from MoHUA.
Representing Sri Vijaya Puram at the national stage were Mr. S. Shahul Hameed, Chairperson, SVPMC; Mr. Azharuddin Zahiruddin Quazi, IAS, Secretary, SVPMC; Mr. Vinod Kumar Yadav, Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration; along with the Superintending Engineer and Sanitary Officer of SVPMC.
According to the City Report Card issued by MoHUA, Sri Vijaya Puram, categorized as a medium-sized city with a population between 0.5 to 3 lakh, scored 9096 out of a possible 12,500 points—achieving a commendable 72.27%. The city was also awarded ODF++ status and earned a 3-Star Garbage Free City (GFC) rating for the first time.
The assessment included extensive ground-level surveys and citizen engagement across 16 residential areas, 2 commercial zones, 6 public toilets, 12 schools, 350 households, 36 waste processing units, 1 dumpsite remediation site, and 1 faecal sludge treatment plant. A total of 11,100 citizen feedback responses were collected and verified by an independent third-party agency.
Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 featured three award categories: Super Swachh League Cities (Presidential Awards), National Rankings (Presidential Awardees), and Special Category Awards (Hon’ble Cabinet Minister’s Awardees). Sri Vijaya Puram was recognized under the Special Category for its innovative and impactful approach to urban sanitation.
The city also made an impressive leap in the national rankings—jumping from 162nd out of 446 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in 2023-24 to 99th out of 824 ULBs in 2024-25, entering the coveted Top 100 list.
This milestone is a testament to the relentless efforts of the city’s Safai Mitras, municipal staff, and the enthusiastic involvement of citizens. The Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council extended its gratitude to all stakeholders, especially the residents, for their unwavering support in achieving this national honor. (Story Based on PR)
