Jharkhand has been adjudged the Best Performing State among states with less than 100 urban local bodies (ULB) for the third time under the Swacch Sarvekshan initiative of the Centre aimed at encouraging cities and states to take up cleanliness efforts with a competitive spirit.

State urban development and housing secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey received the award and a certificate from President Ramnath Kovind at an event in New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan on Saturday.

“It is a matter of great pride for the state. The award will further inspire the state to take up new initiatives for cleanliness and hygiene in urban areas,” Choubey said.

In 2020, Jharkhand topped the charts and got the award for the Best Performing State in the category of states having less than 100 ULBs. In Swachh Survekshan 2018 also Jharkhand had topped the charts and was titled "India’s Best Performing State". However, in Swachh Survekshan 2019, Jharkhand was declared as the second best-performing state as Chhattisgarh climbed up to the top spot.

In the category of states with less than 100 urban local bodies, Jharkhand has been ranked first, followed by Haryana and Goa, a document from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs stated.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs claimed that at least 4,320 cities were surveyed in 28 days during the latest Swacch Sarvekshan, adding that over 4.2 crore people gave their feedback during the process.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren congratulated all the residents of urban Jharkhand and cleanliness workers on the state’s feat, and said that Jharkhand’s performance in the Swacch Sarvekshan was the result of team work.

Two Jharkhand cities also won accolades for cleanliness initiatives. Jamshedpur bagged the second position in Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge among cities with population of 3 to 10 lakh, while Jugsalai won the best city award in East Zone among cities with 25,000 to 50,000 population. Launched by the Centre in 2020 across 243 cities, the Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge aims to ensure that no life of any sewer or septic tank cleaner is ever lost owing to hazardous cleaning.

According to a press communique from the Urban Development and Housing Department of Jharkhand, several initiatives were taken by the state to ensure better ratings in the Swacch Sarvekshan. Regular meetings were held by all the urban local bodies in the state and special campaigns were organised to ensure cleanliness in the cities. Besides, the urban local bodies ensured door-to-door collection of garbage and segregation of waste. Plastic carry bags were also banned by the government, which led to a drop in the use of single-use-plastic.