Sonipat — The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has rolled out the Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) initiative, a nationwide mentorship and collaborative action programme under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U). The scheme pairs 72 mentor cities with nearly 200 mentee cities to share best practices in sanitation and waste management.
Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal launched the programme in Sonipat in the presence of MoS Shri Tokhan Sahu, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, state urban development ministers, mayors, commissioners, and MoHUA Secretary Shri S. Katikithala. Nearly 300 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between mentor and mentee cities during the national event.
The initiative draws its strength from the Swachh Survekshan rankings, where top-performing cities—members of the Super Swachh League—have consistently demonstrated high citizen engagement and effective waste management models. These mentor cities will now guide low-ranked cities in replicating successful models.
Speaking at the launch, Shri Manohar Lal said, “SSJ is not just a ceremonial partnership; it is a time-bound, outcome-driven initiative that embodies the spirit of Antyodaya—ensuring no city is left behind.”
The MoHUA has also released guidelines and a 100-day action plan, requiring mentor–mentee pairs to co-create roadmaps with defined milestones. The results will be assessed in Swachh Survekshan 2026.
Secretary Shri S. Katikithala highlighted that SSJ is a dynamic platform for handholding and peer learning, aiming to significantly improve swachhata outcomes in mentee cities.
By fostering structured mentorship, the Swachh Shehar Jodi initiative is set to become one of the largest collaborative frameworks in urban waste management, advancing India’s journey towards cleaner, more resilient cities. PIB
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