Guidelines for implementing special campaign for creating awareness about solid waste management through People's Movement for Clean Cities

What the document does

The Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department issued Government Order G.O.(Ms)No.79 dated 2 June 2022 to implement the People's Movement for Clean Cities across urban local bodies. The campaign is intended to involve citizens in making cities garbage free and sustaining open defecation free conditions.

The Government approved the campaign guidelines and the Cleanliness Pledge annexed to the government order. The source text does not set out any change to land ownership, registration, property tax or development rights.

Main campaign objectives

The People's Movement for Clean Cities focuses on public responsibility for sanitation and solid waste management. Its objectives are:

• Educating people about solid waste management and their responsibility for managing waste.
• Promoting segregation of waste at its source.
• Preventing littering in public places.
• Building and sustaining cleanliness habits among citizens.

Specialised activities are to take place on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month and continue as a regular programme.

Activities and public participation

The campaign guidelines identify six main activities:

• Mass cleaning of public areas.
• Awareness about waste segregation at source.
• Awareness campaigns in schools and colleges.
• Cleaning water bodies and storm water drains, along with mass tree planting.
• Removal of unauthorised hoardings and boards.
• Recognition of champion workers and volunteers.

Urban local bodies must identify campaign locations in advance, arrange publicity, provide workers and materials, and maintain an evolving database of volunteers. Participation is to be mobilised from voluntary organisations, non-governmental organisations, resident welfare associations, schools, colleges, traders, business bodies and other community groups.

Administration and monitoring

Government Order G.O.(Ms)No.79 dated 2 June 2022 creates a High Level Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary to Government. Its members include officials from municipal administration, water resources, education, health, highways, housing and urban development, pollution control and other departments.

The Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation, the Commissioner of Town Panchayats and the Director of Municipal Administration must monitor the campaign through appropriate mechanisms. All government offices are requested to follow the guidelines and assist the programme.