PMC urges citizens, employees’ family members to give positive feedback for SS 2023

Given these developments, all officers and employees across various PMC departments have been directed to download the Swachhata application (app) and submit positive feedback about the city under ‘vote for your city - citizens’ feedback’

PUNE

Despite the PMC’s appeal to its employees’ family members to contribute positive feedback for the SS 2023 and despite the citizens’ feedback process having been initiated on July 1 with an August 16 deadline set for feedback submission, only 35,000 citizens have submitted the feedback forms till date. (HT PHOTO)

With Pune’s rank in the Swachh Sarvekshan 2022 (SS 2022) among cities with a population exceeding 10 lakhs having slipped to ninth place from fifth place in 2021, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken upon itself the task of enlisting the support of citizens and family members of its employees to reverse this downward trend and bolster Pune’s prospects in the Swachh Sarvekshan 2023 (SS 2023).

Despite the PMC’s appeal to its employees’ family members to contribute positive feedback for the SS 2023 and despite the citizens’ feedback process having been initiated on July 1 with an August 16 deadline set for feedback submission, only 35,000 citizens have submitted the feedback forms till date. This, when the PMC has set a target of 1 lakh responses till the August 16 deadline.

Dr Ketaki Ghatge, assistant medical officer of the solid waste department and overseer of the Sarvekshan, said, “Till date, approximately 35,000 citizens have completed the feedback forms. Historically, around 70% of the citizens provide positive feedback, though the response this time has been less enthusiastic. While we have urged our employees and their families to participate, we have not received the anticipated response from our employees. Enforcement is not an option in this scenario.”

“By government standards, 2% feedback is expected based on the city’s population. Hence, we are anticipating at least one lakh feedback submissions from the citizens. The submission deadline for feedback forms is August 16 and to expand participation, we are reaching out to local educational institutions,” Dr Ghatge said.

In July, additional municipal commissioner Kunal Khemnar had issued a circular announcing the commencement of the SS 2023 campaign by the Government of Maharashtra. This year’s survey is themed, ‘Waste to Wealth’ and is accompanied by a comprehensive toolkit. City cleanliness will be measured in terms of specific criteria established by the government. The evaluation process will encompass feedback from both the youth (aged 15 to 29 years) and the elderly (aged 60 years and above).

Given these developments, all officers and employees across various PMC departments have been directed to download the Swachhata application (app) and submit positive feedback about the city under ‘vote for your city - citizens’ feedback’. The PMC is actively encouraging its employees to engage their families in contributing positive feedback. Every officer and employee is being urged to disseminate information within their respective circles to maximise the number of positive responses.

To facilitate this initiative, the Swachh Sarvekshan War Room will collect and compile the names and mobile numbers of officers, employees, and their family members providing feedback. Throughout the evaluation process, officials from the SS 2023 central government team are likely to reach out to individuals for further details concerning their submitted feedback.