Haryana has been ranked the top-performing state in North India in the Swachh Survekshan Grameen (SSG) 2025 rankings, placing it ahead of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan in the region. Rohtak has been adjudged the best-performing district in North India under the same survey, which is conducted by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Alongside Haryana, Uttar Pradesh was declared the top-performing state in the Central Zone, Bihar in the East Zone, Sikkim in the North-East Zone, Telangana in the South Zone, and Maharashtra in the West Zone.
Top 3 districts in the North Zone (SSG 2025):
| Rank | District | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohtak | Haryana |
| 2 | Malerkotla | Punjab |
| 3 | Una | Himachal Pradesh |
What is Swachh Survekshan Grameen?
The Swachh Survekshan Grameen is an annual national survey that ranks rural sanitation and cleanliness efforts across Indian states and districts. This year’s rankings place Haryana’s rural sanitation programme ahead of its immediate regional neighbours, at a time when states are competing to improve waste management and sanitation infrastructure in villages.
Made cleanliness a daily practice rather than a campaign
Rohtak ADC-cum-CEO (Zila Parishad and DRDA) Narendra Kumar said the survey assessed states and districts on multiple parameters, including sanitation infrastructure, solid and liquid waste management, citizen feedback, service-level progress and on-ground verification. Punjab’s Malerkotla secured the second position in the North Zone, followed by Una in Himachal Pradesh at third, he said.
Kumar attributed Rohtak’s performance to a comprehensive rural sanitation strategy. Solid waste management sheds were set up in gram panchayats, supported by monthly shramdaan drives, plastic collection and compost pits for organic waste, he said.
Liquid waste was managed through soak pit systems, community soakage pits, drain screening and the promotion of kitchen gardens, while individual and community toilets were constructed and regularly monitored. Door-to-door waste collection was ensured in collaboration with gram panchayats, and private de-sludging operators were registered for faecal sludge management, the ADC added.
Incinerators were installed in girls’ schools for sanitary waste disposal, alongside cleanliness awareness campaigns, wall paintings and plastic waste segregation drives.
Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta said the achievement belonged to every gram panchayat, sanitation worker, frontline official and rural household that made cleanliness a daily practice rather than a campaign. He added that Rohtak’s performance is expected to serve as a model for other districts in the region.