Swachhta Didis Who Brought National Recognition to Chhattisgarh to be Honored with a Traditional Foot-Washing Ceremony

Raipur, August 11

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai will honor the Swachhta Didis (women sanitation workers) who have brought national pride to Chhattisgarh with a traditional pad-prakshalan (foot-washing) ceremony at the ‘Swachhta Sangam-2025’, organized by the Department of Urban Administration and Development in Bilaspur district on August 12, 2025. On this occasion, he will also felicitate urban bodies that have performed excellently in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25.

At the event, to be held at the Indoor Stadium in Bahatarai, Bilaspur, the Chief Minister will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for development works worth over ₹260 crores. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Sao, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Tokhan Sahu, MLAs Shri Dharamlal Kaushik, Shri Amar Agrawal, Shri Dharamjeet Singh, Shri Dilip Lahariya, Shri Sushant Shukla, and Shri Atal Shrivastava, along with Bilaspur Mayor Smt. Pooja Vidhani, will also be present.

More than 9,000 Swachhta Didis, along with mayors, chairpersons, health department members, municipal commissioners, CMO officials, senior engineers, and nodal officers of urban bodies across the state have been invited.

Foot-Washing Ceremony for Swachhta Didis
Secretary of the Urban Administration and Development Department, Dr. Basavaraju S., stated that women sanitation workers who have significantly contributed to keeping cities clean and beautiful will be honored ceremonially. Seven urban bodies that performed exceptionally in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 were felicitated by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, in New Delhi. In addition to these, over 30 other top-performing urban bodies at the divisional level will also be awarded.

State-Level Competition for Urban Cleanliness and Aesthetics
A state-level competition will be launched to improve sanitation and urban beautification standards. This competition aims to:

Strengthen urban sanitation

Promote good governance and administrative efficiency

Encourage beautification efforts

The initiative will help make cities cleaner and more beautiful while enhancing residents’ quality of life. It will also motivate public representatives, officials, and citizens to recognize and further improve their capacities in these areas.

Launch of GIS-Based Property Tax Portal in 46 Cities
A GIS-based property tax live portal will be launched in:

3 Municipal Corporations: Birgaon, Bhilai-Charoda, and Dhamtari

43 Municipal Councils

This will allow citizens to pay property tax online in 46 cities, marking a major step towards modernization of local governance and providing at-home services to citizens. It is also expected to enhance tax collection efficiency.

CM to Inaugurate 24 Projects Worth ₹63.57 Cr and Lay Foundation Stones for 25 Projects Worth ₹197 Cr
At the event, CM Shri Sai will:

Inaugurate 24 development works worth over ₹63.57 crore

Lay foundation stones for 25 projects worth over ₹197 crore

Distribute materials and checks to beneficiaries of various government schemes

Inauguration Highlights:

₹3.85 crore commercial complex at Nutan Chowk, Bilaspur

₹9.05 crore STP at Koni

₹4.82 crore girls’ hostel at Government Engineering College

₹6.29 crore 3.6 km road from Nagoi Basti to Modhe Naka

₹12.53 crore widening and strengthening of 7 km Usalpur-Daija Road

₹5.45 crore 3.5 km two-lane road from Mangla Bhaisajhar to Deendayal Colony via Lohkhandi Railway Gate

Launch of Nal-Jal Scheme under Jal Jeevan Mission in 11 villages of Bilaspur

Foundation Stone Laying Highlights:

₹26.42 crore Nalanda Complex & Academic Block under Education Hub at Dayalband

₹17 crore Gaurav Path from Ashok Nagar Chowk to Birkora Mod under CM Urban Renewal Scheme

₹9.74 crore Atal Path from Arpa Indrasetu to Ram Setu

₹5.09 crore road from Mangla Chowk to Azad Chowk

₹11.56 crore high-level bridge over Arpa River on Shanichari-Chantidih Road

₹3.76 crore bridge over Maniyari River between Takhatpur and Barela

₹9.90 crore upgrade to water supply systems in Bahatarai, Rajkishore Nagar, Lingiyadih, Deorikhurd, and Sirgitti

₹34.16 crore strengthening of 12.6 km Butena-Dhaurabhata Road

₹10 crore English-medium model college building

₹22.22 crore auditorium in Bilaspur

Other works include:

₹6.81 crore anicut at Vijaypur

₹7.96 crore bridge and 2.5 km road from Son to Sonasari Sabridera over Sarar Nala

Projects under Municipal Corporation, PMGSY, PWD, RES, and Rural Development Department