The Indian government has launched the 'Swachh Shehar Jodi' (SSJ) program to improve municipal solid waste management in 200 cities. This initiative, under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), pairs 72 mentor cities with approximately 200 mentee cities within the same state to encourage structured mentorship, peer learning, and collaborative action.

Objectives and Focus Areas

The Swachh Shehar Jodi initiative aims to support lower-performing cities by leveraging the experience of mentor cities. The core objectives include:

• Replicating tested best practices in sanitation and waste management.
• Strengthening processes in mentee cities.
• Supporting waste processing setups to improve visible cleanliness.
• Improving citizen engagement for responsible behavior change towards cleanliness.

To ensure targeted and measurable improvement, each mentor-mentee city pair will jointly develop an action plan. The plan will focus on process replication, field improvement, and citizen engagement, aligning with Swachh Survekshan. The eight thematic focus areas are:

1. Visible Cleanliness: Eliminating Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs) and transforming Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) to maintain public spaces, with special attention to high-footfall areas like tourist places and markets.
2. Waste Segregation and Transportation: Achieving 100% door-to-door collection, source segregation, and efficient waste transportation.
3. Solid Waste Processing: Ensuring scientific waste processing through operational Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and composting units, along with legacy waste remediation and the establishment of scientific sanitary landfills.
4. Access to Sanitation: Providing universal access to clean and functional community and public toilets.
5. Used Water Management: Improving greywater and fecal sludge management, especially in non-sewered areas.
6. Mechanization of Desludging Services & Welfare of Sanitation Workers: Deploying mechanized desludging services and safe disposal systems, focusing on the safety, dignity, PPE use, insurance, and regular health checks for sanitation staff.

Implementation and Expected Outcomes

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is overseeing the Swachh Shehar Jodi initiative. The program involves a 100-day process designed to ensure interventions and improvements that will positively impact Swachh Survekshan rankings in 2026 and beyond. By March 2026, the initiative is expected to demonstrate measurable improvements in mentee cities across the eight focus areas. Special emphasis will be placed on achieving:

• Visible cleanliness throughout the city.
• Higher rates of waste processing.
• Positive citizen feedback and increased civic engagement.

Impact and Vision

The "city-twinning" model promotes knowledge sharing and learning, marking a significant step in urban waste management. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar emphasized the importance of community and unity in achieving clean, garbage-free cities, building upon the foundation laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Mission. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has also expressed Haryana's commitment to playing a vital role in this initiative. The ultimate goal is to transform mentee cities into visibly cleaner, citizen-responsive spaces that are better equipped to handle sanitation requirements.