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The Challenge, was launched on the occasion of World Toilet Day, is aimed at preventing ‘hazardous cleaning’ of sewers and septic tanks and promote their mechanized cleaning. 

Aim

• To ensure that no life of any sewer or septic tank cleaner is ever lost again owing to the issue of ‘hazardous cleaning.
• To ensure that no person needs to enter a sewer or septic tank, unless absolutely unavoidable in the interest of greater public hygiene.
  

Reason

• India still continues to witness over hundred deaths per year due to manual scavenging.
• The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act (2013) and various judgements of Hon'ble Supreme Court expressly prohibit hazardous cleanin.
• Manual entry into a septic tank or sewer without protective gear and observing operating procedures.

Highlights

• The Challenge will focus extensively on creating citizen awareness on this critical issue along with infrastructure creation for mechanized cleaning and capacity building of workforce.
• A dedicated helpline number has been set up to register complaints and provide real-time solutions on desludging or sewer overflow.
• The actual on-ground assessment of participating cities will be conducted in May 2021 by an independent agency and results of the same will be declared on 15 August 2021."

Cities will be awarded with a total prize money of ₹52 crores in three sub-categories –

• With population of more than 10 lakhs,
• 3-10 lakhs and
• Upto 3 lakhs,

 The prize money will be given to winning cities across all categories.