Chandigarh, February 3:-In a major step towards nurturing clean habits from an early age and strengthening the city’s Swachhata movement, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh today launched the Swachh School Ranking Initiative, a comprehensive, city-wide programme to be conducted from 3rd February to 15th February, 2026, aimed at promoting cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene across government and private schools.

The initiative was formally launched by City Mayor Sh. Saurabh Joshi during the Swachh School Orientation Programme organised for school principals and representatives in preparation for the upcoming Swachh Survekshan at Rani Laxmi Bai Mahila Bhawan, Sector 38, Chandigarh.

The event was attended by Ms. Prerna Puri, IAS, Secretary Education, Chandigarh Administration; Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh; Sh. Pardeep Kumar, IAS, Special Commissioner; Smt. Suman Devi, Deputy Mayor; Sh. Yogesh Dhingra, Area Councillor, along with other councillors, senior officers of MCC, principals and teachers from various government and private schools.

Addressing the gathering, City Mayor Sh. Saurabh Joshi said that schools are the strongest foundation for building a clean and responsible society. He said clean habits start at school. Through the Swachh School Ranking Initiative, the MCC not just evaluating infrastructure, but shaping behaviour, responsibility and environmental consciousness among our children. When students learn cleanliness and sustainability early, they carry these values home and into society. This initiative will play a vital role in achieving Mission Chandigarh Number 1, the Mayor said.

He urged all schools to actively participate and treat cleanliness as a continuous culture rather than a one-time activity.

Ms. Prerna Puri, IAS, Secretary Education, emphasized the role of educational institutions in holistic development. She said the clean, safe and hygienic school environment is essential for effective learning. This initiative aligns sanitation, health and education in a very practical way. She appreciated the Municipal Corporation’s efforts to guide schools clearly on assessment parameters and encourage aspirational practices like Eco-Clubs, RRR Centres and rainwater harvesting.

She encouraged principals and teachers to involve students as active partners in cleanliness drives and environmental stewardship.

Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, explained that the ranking system is aligned with Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0 guidelines and focuses on sustainability. He said the assessment framework covers visible cleanliness, source segregation, waste management, toilets, IEC activities and aspirational indicators like environmental sustainability and plastic-free campuses. The aim is to support schools with clarity, capacity-building and transparent evaluation so that best practices can be replicated city-wide, he said.

He added that photographic evidence, proper segregation and on-site solutions like composting will play a key role in scoring.

The orientation sensitised school authorities on WaSH indicators (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) and the marking criteria under Swachh Survekshan. Detailed guidance was provided on waste segregation, use of litter bins, toilet hygiene, composting methods, IEC activities and adoption of the RRR principle – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle within school premises.

Schools will be assessed under parameters including Visible Cleanliness, Source Segregation, Litter Bins, On-site Composting, Toilets, IEC & Aspirational Indicators, RRR Centres, Environmental Sustainability, Eco-Clubs and Single Use Plastic ban.

Schools can participate by scanning the QR code or registering through the online link https://forms.gle/vFg9UaKSCUf1tMUd7. Clean schools will be recognised and awarded in different categories, and best practices will be showcased at the city level.

Area Councillor Sh. Yogesh Dhingra, appreciated the enthusiastic participation of school representatives and reaffirmed the collective commitment of elected representatives, administration and educators towards making Chandigarh a role model in school cleanliness and sustainability.