Guwahati, May 30: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has launched a community-based Swachhata Competition involving Mahila Samitis, Unnayan Samitis, Nagarik Samitis and local clubs to strengthen citizen participation under the Swachh Survekshan programme.
The initiative was announced during a press conference at the GMC office in Uzan Bazar, attended by Guwahati Mayor Mrigen Sarania, Deputy Mayor Smita Roy, GMC Commissioner Chinmoy Prakash Phookan and other senior officials.
Under the competition, community groups representing between 100 and 300 households will be evaluated on various sanitation, cleanliness and environmental indicators. The assessment will carry a total of 150 marks and will include parameters such as waste segregation through twin bins, cleanliness of roads and drains, elimination of open garbage points, plantation activities, awareness campaigns, home composting, prevention of open urination and spitting, and effective functioning of local committees.
A key feature of the competition will be neighbourhood beautification through purple-themed painting of shops, houses and walls, inspired by the Kopou (foxtail orchid), Assam’s state flower. This component alone will account for 50 marks in the evaluation.
To encourage participation, GMC has announced cash prizes of ₹3 lakh, ₹2 lakh and ₹1 lakh for the top three performers, along with three consolation prizes of ₹50,000 each. A special award of ₹5 lakh will be presented to an exceptionally performing samiti. All participating organisations will receive certificates of participation.
As part of the programme, GMC will appoint around 1,000 Swachh Sakhis, each responsible for monitoring approximately 300 households and promoting waste segregation and sanitation practices at the grassroots level.
The civic body also announced a reduction in the monthly household waste collection user fee from ₹50 to ₹30 while continuing door-to-door waste collection services.
Officials said the initiative aims to foster community ownership of sanitation, strengthen citizen engagement and improve Guwahati’s performance in the national Swachh Survekshan rankings while promoting cleaner and greener neighbourhoods across the city.
