Swachh Shehar Jodi: Transforming Urban Sanitation Through Mentorship

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) on 27 September 2025, a national initiative designed to uplift underperforming cities by pairing them with high-performing ones in the domain of urban sanitation and waste management. As many as 300 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed simultaneously across India, formally marking partnerships between 72 mentor cities and nearly 200 mentee cities.

Building on Swachh Survekshan’s Momentum

• India’s Swachh Survekshan, the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey, has revealed stark differences between top-ranking and low-ranking cities. While some cities repeatedly excel in citizen engagement, waste management, and sanitation governance, others struggle with basic systems and public participation.
• To bridge this gap, the concept of city-to-city mentorship was introduced. The Super Swachh League was created from top performers in the 2022–2024 surveys, who now serve as mentors. These cities were chosen for their proven track records, innovative approaches, and adaptability to challenges.

Inclusive Development Model

• The SSJ initiative aligns with the principle of Antyodaya, ensuring no city is left behind.
• The program is not symbolic but a result-oriented, time-bound exercise aimed at bringing about visible changes in urban sanitation standards across India.

Key Features of the Initiative

Mentor–Mentee Pairing

Mentor cities were selected from,

• Top three performers in Swachh Survekshan 2024
• Members of the Super Swachh League
• Promising clean cities from across states

Mentee cities were chosen from low-ranking cities within each state, considering geographic proximity to their mentor cities to ease coordination and encourage regional adaptation.

100-Day Action Plan

Each mentor–mentee pair will,

• Develop a customized action plan with set milestones
• Conduct workshops and exposure visits
• Share expertise on areas like waste segregation, citizen engagement, used water management, and more
• Participate in ongoing monitoring and reporting mechanisms

This entire phase will be completed in 100 days, after which outcomes will be evaluated in Swachh Survekshan 2026.

Strategic Guidance and Support

MoHUA will,

• Provide policy direction and operational support
• Monitor progress through a central dashboard
• Ensure each pair has access to training materials, technical support, and reporting systems

Exam Takeaways

• Launch date: 27 September 2025
• Lead ministry: MoHUA, under Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban
• Duration of pilot phase: 100 days
• Focus areas: waste segregation, sanitation access, citizen advocacy, grievance redressal
• Evaluation platform: Swachh Survekshan 2026