Chandigarh, March 12:- With an aim to promote civic science education in city beautiful, Smart City Chandigarh took a significant step by launching Swachhata ki Pustak, “Smart Citizens = Happy Citizens”.

Smart City Chandigarh and Outlook magazine has, in a historic initiative, curated the Collector's Edition, which is being introduced in school curriculum for the first time in the country.

Sh. Banwarilal Purohit, Governor, Punjab and Administrator, UT Chandigarh, unveiled this collector's edition titled "Swacchata Ki Pustak: Happy & Smart City" today at the Punjab Raj Bhawan in the presence of Member of Parliament Smt. Kirron Kher, City Mayor, Sh. Kuldeep Kumar, Adviser to Administrator, Sh. Rajeev Verma, IAS, Sh. K. Siva Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary to Governor, Secretary Local Government, Sh. Nitin Kumar Yadav, IAS, Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, Commissioner, Ms. Purva Garg, IAS, Secretary, Education, Sh. Kuljeet Singh Sandhu, Senior Deputy Mayor, along with Sandeep Ghosh, Publisher, Outlook and Dr. Prabhleen Singh of Rekhi Foundation.

Addressing the audience and students of various schools at the launch, the Governor said that this initiative is a path breaking step towards promoting cleanliness and sanitation education among students, our future citizens. Through this collaboration, Smart City aims to educate school students and inspire them to become responsible citizens.

Member of Parliament Smt. Kirron Kher emphasized the importance of the initiative by saying that instilling habits of cleanliness and awareness about waste management from a young age is crucial for building a sustainable and environment-friendly city. She congratulated Smart City Chandigarh, Outlook Magazine, and the Rekhi Foundation for their concerted efforts in making this initiative a reality.

While speaking on the occasion, the City Mayor Sh. Kuldeep Kumar said that the special collector's edition on Swachhata, curated by Smart City, Outlook Group and Rekhi Foundation, will be distributed to students in Chandigarh's Government schools from 9th to 12th grade and made part of their curriculum.

CEO Smart City, Anindita Mitra IAS, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, stating that by introducing 'Swacchata Ki Pustak' in the school curriculum, the MCC providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges related to waste management and sanitation. This initiative aligns with the vision of creating a clean and healthy environment for all citizens.

She said that the collaboration between the Smart City, Outlook Magazine, and the Rekhi Foundation aims to instill knowledge about ground-level problems related to improper segregation, solid waste, waste water, and the efforts of the Government and Municipal Corporation in tackling these issues.

She further said that the vision behind the #SwachhtaknowledgeBook is to educate children and develop a basic understanding of the importance of cleanliness and sanitation. This initiative aligns with the Swachh Bharat Mission, which has gained tremendous momentum over the past nine years with active participation from citizens of all walks of life.

She said that the "Swacchata Ki Pustak: Smart Citizens = Happy Citizens" book is designed to link the core value of happiness with cleanliness, in line with the Rekhi Foundation's vision and mission of creating centers of excellence in academia to disseminate knowledge through the science and practice of happiness.

Gists of the some chapters of the Book are as follows:

Chapter-1 : Cleanliness for happiness

This chapter introduces about the overall idea of the book, what will be gained, the vision of cleaner tomorrow, connecting dots of sustainability, happiness and health

Chapter-2 : Let’s talk trash!

This chapter helps to understand the type of waste around us, its channels & types, what is segregation and how it can be done, why it is important for environment and importance of Segregation of waste, understanding bulk waste generators. How systematic waste segregation can contribute to everyone’s happiness at school

Chapter-3 : A waste warrior’s guide

This chapter helps to understand Municipal Solid Waste and how it is being characterized, total quantum of waste that is being generated in India, responsibilities of Urban Local Body, What is integrated solid waste management, the concept of 3R, 3R leading to happy students

Chapter-4 : Art of integrated solid waste management

This chapter helps to understand the power of source reduction and reuse, the magic of recycling, waste to composting, waste to energy, scientific ways to dispose waste. How waste is being collected from households, types of waste segregation like primary segregation, secondary segregation, unveiling garbage vulnerable points in neighborhood

Chapter-5 : Understanding wastewater

This chapter helps to understand challenges of wastewater treatment, different types of waste water, how untreated waste water/sewage is harmful for environment, scientific management of waste water generated, turning waste water into energy, water conservation, catch the rain initiative, concept of 3Rs in Water management & conservation

Chapter-6 : Swachhta: sanitation and hygiene

This chapter helps to understand the foundation of sanitation & wellbeing, sanitation in our daily routine, practice of personal hygiene, the impact of good hygiene, the interconnected world of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), menstrual hygiene management, what is open defecation and consequences of Open Defecation, disease prevention from unhygienic conditions, About Swachh Bharat Mission

Chapter-7 : The unsung heroes of cleanliness

This chapter helps to understand to identify who are safaikarmacharis and safaimitras, respect and appreciation to safaikaramcharis and safaimitras, life and struggle, benefits provided, manual scavenging vs hazardous manual cleaning, responsibility of citizens towards safaikarmacharis and safaimitras, helping safaikaramcharis for happiness

Chapter-8 : Government rules, policies, and initiatives in waste management

This chapter helps to understand how waste can be turned into a resource, what all are the rules and regulations notified by Government of India for managing different types of waste like C&D Waste management rules 2016, Solid Waste Management rules 2016, Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules 2016, E-Waste Management Rules 2016, Role NGT in India an environment friendly, about various flagship schemes launched by GoI like Swachh Survekshan, Garbage Free City Certification, ODF/ODF+/ODF++/Water + certification, Peyjal Survekshan

Chapter-9 : Empowering students for sustainable waste management and sanitation

This chapter helps to understand the roles and responsibilities of students waste management, water conservation, how students play a important role in making Chandigarh a true city beautiful. How students play an important role by being a change maker in the society