Asika Municipality Secures Second Rank Nationally in Swachh Survekshan 2025–26

Asika/Chhatrapur: Asika Municipality in Ganjam district has secured the second position nationally among Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) with a population of 20,000 to 50,000 under the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025–26.

President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to the municipality at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Municipal Chairperson Binita Swain, Special Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department and Mission Director of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Binay Kumar Dash, Project Director of Ganjam District Urban Development Agency Sameer Kumar Jena, and Asika Municipality In-charge Executive Officer Ashalata Rachamala received the Mahatma Gandhi statue and certificate of recognition.

The national recognition acknowledges the efforts of sanitation workers and the active participation of residents in maintaining cleanliness and improving sanitation standards in the municipality.

Congratulating Asika Municipality, Ganjam Collector V. Keerthi Vasan described the achievement as a matter of pride for the district. He said the recognition would further strengthen efforts under the ‘Ama Ganjam, Swachh Ganjam’ initiative and encourage sustainable waste management practices. He also expressed confidence that the achievement would contribute to the development of cleaner, healthier and more inclusive urban and rural areas.

The Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025–26 mark the tenth edition of the annual cleanliness assessment conducted under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban. Recognised as the world’s largest urban sanitation survey, this year’s edition carries the theme ‘Swachhata Ki Nayi Pehel – Badhaayein Haath, Karein Safai Saath’, highlighting citizen participation and healthy competition among cities to improve urban cleanliness and sanitation.