Jaipur cleanliness model gains attention across India:Indore and Surat follow ‘Pink City’ approach after staying top-ranked cities in sanitation drive

On 18 April, the Safai Seva Marathon created a new milestone in cleanliness management in Jaipur. The city usually collects around 2,000 tonnes of waste every day, but during the special campaign, more than 6,000 tonnes of garbage were cleared within just 12 hours. Municipal employees, public representatives, social organisations and citizens all took part in the drive. The campaign was more than just a cleanliness exercise. It aimed to show that if every citizen contributes towards keeping the city clean, the overall appearance of Jaipur can be transformed. Once known for studying the sanitation models of other cities, Jaipur has now become an inspiration for major municipal corporations across the country. For the first time, the cleanliness and public participation initiatives introduced by the Jaipur Municipal Corporation in 2026 have not only been appreciated by leading cities such as Indore, Amravati and Surat, but have also been adopted by them. The achievement highlights that when the administration and the public work together, cleanliness can become a powerful people’s movement rather than just a government programme. Under the leadership of newly appointed Municipal Commissioner Om Prakash Kasera, Jaipur has introduced several innovative initiatives this year. The objective was not only to remove waste from the streets but also to change public behaviour and encourage a sense of responsibility towards the city. The administration believes the campaign has successfully conveyed that keeping Jaipur clean is not only the duty of sanitation workers but the responsibility of every citizen. A lesson from the Pink City According to Suresh Saini, General Secretary of the Jaipur Trade Federation, preventing littering is even more important than collecting waste, and this message has emerged as the campaign’s biggest success. IPL Match organised for sanitation workers On 2 May, the Jaipur Municipal Corporation launched a unique initiative to boost the morale of sanitation workers. For the first time, they were given the opportunity to watch an IPL match along with the District Collector and the Divisional Commissioner. Sanitation workers work from early morning until late at night to keep the city clean, yet their silent contribution often goes unnoticed. The initiative was aimed at honouring their efforts and sending a message that these frontline workers play the most important role in maintaining a clean city. ‘Rang De Gulabi’ gives pink city a new look Jaipur is globally recognised for its pink heritage. To strengthen this identity further, the Municipal Corporation launched the Rang De Gulabi campaign on 2 May. The campaign saw active participation from the transgender community, young people, voluntary organisations and local residents. In less than 24 hours, more than 600 public walls across the city were beautified. Indore adopts Jaipur’s model The impact of Jaipur’s beautification and public participation campaigns is now visible in other parts of the country. Inspired by Jaipur’s success, the Indore Municipal Corporation, widely regarded as India’s cleanest city, has launched the Rang De Backlane campaign. The initiative draws heavily from Jaipur’s Rang De Gulabi concept, with attractive paintings now being created on streets and walls across Indore to improve the city’s appearance.