On September 6, 2019, The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind has addressed the special function ‘Swachh Mahotsav 2019’, organized by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti held in Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. President has received the Swachh Bharat Mission’s book on Behavior Change Communication from Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who formally released the book.
The President also presented the Swachh Bharat Awards 2019 in various categories for outstanding contribution to Swachh Bharat Mission in New Delhi.
List of Swachh Bharat Awards 2019
| S.No | Name of the Award | Award won by |
| 1 | Best Swachh Iconic Place award | Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) Category: Overall improvement in sanitation |
| 2 | Best Swachh Iconic Place Award | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Category: Swachh Bharat Mission Initiative |
| 3 | Best ministry for implementation of Swachhta Action Plan for 2018-19 | Ministry of Railways |
| 4 | Swachhta Pakhwada Award | Department of Defence |
| 5 | Best Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) | Power Grid Corporation (for its contribution to Swachh Bharat Kosh) |
| 6 | Open Defecation Free (ODF) and Behavior Change | Gujarat and Sikkim |
| 7 | Ganga Gram Award | Village Baghori in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand |
| 8 | Swachh Bharat Summer Internship | Ranjitha S for NCC(National Cadet Corps) Bharatiya Shaheed Sainik School (Nainital) for NSS(National Service Scheme) Vision Youth Association |
Key Highlights:
i. The Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, a religious pilgrimage atop the Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) was adjudged as best Best Swachh Iconic Place in India 2019 for overall improvement in sanitation by undertaking initiatives such as water kiosks, reverse vending machines, installation of kill waste machine, etc.
President Kovind bestowed the award to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB).
Other awards: In 2017, the shrine got a special award from the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation for retaining 2nd position, behind only to the Golden Temple. In 2018, the shrine was also declared as the cleanest religious place by the India Today Group.
ii. The Victorian-era railway station & UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization )World Heritage Site ,the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai, Maharashtra has been awarded the Best swachh iconic place in India 2019 under Swachh Bharat Mission Initiative such as accomplishment of the action plan, involvement of stakeholders in execution of action plans, fund leverage, fund utilization, cleanliness in peripheral area, etc.
The award has been received by Ministry of Railways jointly along with BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC) and CSR partner SBI (State Bank of India) Foundation.
iii. Indian Railways got selected as the best ministry for implementation of Swachhata action plan for 2018-19. Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman, Railway Board has received the award. Indian Railways had spent about 3000 crore on cleanliness campaign on its various properties during 2018-19.
As per Cleanliness Ranking Survey for 2018, three best stations Jodhpur, Jaipur & Tirupati were also awarded.
iv. Addressing the event, President stated that cleanliness as a pathway to success and also an essential condition for success of government’s initiative ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’.
He also underscored the construction of toilets across India under Swachh Bharat Mission that helps in maintaining dignity of women as well as their empowerment.
v. Over 1300 swachhata champions including school children, NCC cadets, volunteers from NSS and NYKS, swachhagrahies, sarpanches, representatives from States and UTs, central government ministries and media persons attended the event.
Swachh Iconic Places initiative:
It was launched in 2016 under Swachh Bharat Mission. It was initiated to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to take iconic places and their surroundings to higher standards of cleanliness.
About Swachh Bharat Mission:
It was launched on 2nd October 2014 by Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to put the focus on sanitation.
It consists of 2 sub-missions Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)-(SBM-G) and Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).