(a) whether any steps have been taken to set up Navachar Ecosystem under waste management;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any steps have been taken to promote entrepreneurs and start ups in the field of waste management under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)
(a) to (d): Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) 2.0., launched on October 01, 2021, encourages adoption of locally innovated, cost-effective technology solutions and business models in sanitation and solid waste management by entrepreneurs and start-ups, through investment in Research & Design (R&D), technology challenges, and facilitation in Government-e-Market (GeM) portal, in order to take forward the Government’s vision of an “AatmaNirbhar Bharat” and “Make in India”.
Under SBM-U 2.0, two challenges have been launched as detailed under :
1. Swachh Technology Challenge : Designed as a sub-component of the ‘Citizen Engagement’ component under Swachh Survekshan (SS) 2022, the Swachh Technology Challenge launched from December 6, 2021 to January 31, 2022 invited solutions not just from start-ups but also individual entrepreneurs, educational institutions, local businesses, research and development organisations, Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and other citizen groups to help city administration efficiently manage operations under SBM-Urban 2.0.
2. Swachhata Startup Challenge : Government in collaboration with AFD (Agence Française de Development), have launched the ‘Swachhata Startup Challenge’ on January 27, 2022 to promote an enabling environment for startups in the waste management sector.
Start-ups will submit innovative solution in four thematic categories, viz, (i) social inclusion, (ii) zero dump (solid waste management), (iii) plastic waste management and (iv) transparency through digital enablement (in alignment to the Swachh Technology Challenge).
The 10 final solutions from Start-ups will get financial support of ?25 Lakhs per selected project, one year dedicated incubation support from a French Tech and national/ international visibility.
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