Haryana has emerged as the top performing state in North India in the Swachh Survekshan Grameen (SSG) 2025 rankings released by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. Rohtak has also been declared the best performing district in the region, placing Haryana ahead of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan in the North India category.
At the national level, Uttar Pradesh was ranked the top performing state in the Central Zone, Bihar in the East Zone, Sikkim in the North East Zone, Telangana in the South Zone and Maharashtra in the West Zone.
Rohtak Additional Deputy Commissioner cum Chief Executive Officer of Zila Parishad and DRDA Narendra Kumar said the survey evaluated states and districts on key parameters, including sanitation infrastructure, solid and liquid waste management, citizen feedback, service level progress and on ground verification.
Among districts in North India, Punjab’s Malerkotla secured the second position, while Himachal Pradesh’s Una was ranked third.
Kumar said Rohtak’s performance was driven by a comprehensive rural sanitation strategy. Solid waste management sheds were established in gram panchayats, monthly shramdaan drives were organised, plastic collection systems were strengthened and compost pits were created for organic waste.
He added that liquid waste management was improved through soak pits, community soakage pits, drain screening and the promotion of kitchen gardens. Individual and community toilets were constructed and regularly monitored to ensure their proper use and maintenance.
Door to door waste collection was carried out in coordination with gram panchayats, while private de sludging operators were registered for faecal sludge management. Incinerators were installed in girls’ schools for the safe disposal of sanitary waste, alongside extensive cleanliness awareness campaigns, wall paintings and plastic waste segregation initiatives.
Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta credited the achievement to the collective efforts of rural communities and frontline workers.
“This achievement belongs to every gram panchayat, sanitation worker, frontline official and rural household that made cleanliness a daily practice rather than a campaign. Rohtak’s performance is expected to serve as a model for other districts in the region,” he said.