Kumar Bahukhandi
28 Swachhta Didis’ efforts bring laurels to “Bilha” Nagar Panchayat , all of them are expressing happiness by showing victory sign -Photo Credit -CG/PR
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh’s Nagar Panchayat Bilha has achieved a historic achievement in the area of cleanliness and has secured the first position in the whole of India in the category of cities with a population of less than 20,000 in the Swachhta Survey 2024–25. For this achievement, Bilha Nagar Panchayat was honored by President of India Draupadi Murmu in a grand award ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 17 July 2025.
Today the echo of this glorious achievement reached the national platform of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the innovation and efforts put by the women of Bilha Nagar Panchayat in the 124th edition of his monthly radio program ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the women of Bilha were given training in waste management and together they changed the face of the city. This mention is a proud moment for the entire Chhattisgarh, which has adopted cleanliness not only as a government scheme but also as a community movement.
Nagar Panchayat Bilha has a population of about 15,000, where 28 Swachhata Didi are working. These Didi collect garbage through e-rickshaws by going door to door in 15 wards of the city and then take the garbage to the SLRM center and separate wet and dry waste. Compost is made from wet waste and by selling dry waste, these women are becoming financially self-reliant.
Besides , 10 special Swachhata Commandos have also been appointed in Bilha Nagar who are doing the work of garbage cleaning and public awareness by roaming around the city through tractors and auto tippers. Bilha Nagar Panchayat has inspired the citizens to separate the waste and give it to e-rickshaws through steps like public awareness campaign, public announcement, and direct collection of garbage from homes and shops.
Swachhta didis on route to accomplish their target -Photo Credit-CG/PR
Mass cleaning campaigns are also run from time to time in Muktidham, pond, garden, community building etc. The credit for this success goes to all the sanitation workers, Swachhata Didi, Nagar Panchayat officials, employees and positive-minded public representatives, who are working with constant inspection and commitment.
It is worth mentioning that there are more than 2000 urban bodies in India with a population of less than 20,000. This honor has been received on the basis of testing of the cleanliness system through independent agencies by the Ministry of Urban Development of the Government of India, which included door-to-door garbage collection, road sweeping, night sweeping, garbage disposal, cleanliness of toilets and parks, and feedback from the public.
On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Saw, Chairman of Municipal Council Bilha Vandana Jendre, Chief Municipal Officer Praveen Singh Gehlot, Vice President Satish Sharma, PIC Member Mohan Dhoria, then Deputy Engineer Narendra Dubey, Sanitation Inspector Yashwant Singh, Sanitation Supervisor Shri Rakesh Dagor, Swachhata Didi Pooja Rathore and PIU Ankit Dubey were specially present in the function organised at Vigyan Bhawan.
Congratulating on this achievement, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that the record set by Bilha Nagar Panchayat in the area of cleanliness is a matter of pride for the entire Chhattisgarh. By securing first place among cities with less than 20,000 population across the country in the Swachhata Survey 2024–25 of the Government of India, Bilha has not only increased the prestige of the state, but has also proved that any goal can be achieved with determination, participation and service spirit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising the women of Bilha and their sanitation innovation in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program makes this achievement historic at the national level . This is a proud moment for the whole of Chhattisgarh.
Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration Minister Arun Saw said that Bilha Nagar Panchayat has increased the prestige of Chhattisgarh in the whole country by securing first place in the Swachhta Survey 2024–25 across India.
This success is a living example of the commitment, work style and public participation of our urban bodies. This achievement will also give new inspiration to other urban bodies of the state and together we will work continuously to keep Chhattisgarh among the leading states of the country in cleanliness.
