Delhi is stepping up its fight against waste with a new month-long campaign aimed at turning the capital into one of the cleanest cities in India. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announced the ‘Delhi Freedom From Garbage’ initiative, offering cash prizes ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore for the best-performing Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), wards, and assembly constituencies.
Speaking at a preparatory meeting, Gupta outlined the reward system:
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Best RWA: ₹25 lakh (₹15 lakh and ₹10 lakh for second and third place).
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Cleanest Ward: ₹50 lakh.
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Cleanest Assembly Constituency: ₹1 crore.
RWAs and organisations participating in the campaign must upload before-and-after photos of their efforts to a dedicated portal, which will serve as the basis for performance evaluation and prize distribution.
“We are writing a golden chapter in Delhi’s history,” Gupta said. “For the first time, agencies like the MCD, PWD, Delhi Police, and the Delhi government are working in full coordination. This is about every citizen taking responsibility: ‘Meri Delhi, Meri Zimmedari’ (My Delhi, My Responsibility).”
A Month of Targeted Action
The campaign runs from August 1 to 31. The first two days will focus on cleaning schools, hospitals, and government offices, followed by weekend drives targeting unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters. Special clean-ups are scheduled at Yamuna ghats on August 14, 21, and 28, with the Ring Road slated for intensive cleaning on August 29 and 31.
Gupta said the government has allocated ₹5 crore to the MCD for the campaign, pledging full support for citizen-led efforts.
Political Context
Taking a swipe at the previous AAP administration, Gupta argued that Delhi had been burdened by a “negative image” but insisted that under current leadership, a “positive, united front” is addressing long-standing civic issues, starting with garbage.
With incentives tied directly to measurable outcomes, the initiative blends competition with civic engagement—a nudge designed to reshape not only the capital’s streets but also its culture of public responsibility.
