Swachhata Green Leaf Rating: New Cleanliness Rating System for Hotels and Resorts
The Union Water and Sanitation Department and the Ministry of Tourism have launched the Swachhata Green Leaf Rating System nationwide, aiming to elevate hygiene and sanitation standards at major tourist destinations.
This initiative will prioritize cleanliness in hotels, resorts, home stays, and other places of tourist stays, with their quality determined solely based on the Swachhata Green Leaf Rating.
Purpose and Implementation of Green Leaf Rating
The Green Leaf Rating System encourages cleanliness across all hospitality facilities at tourist destinations. The program aims to:
- World class hygiene and sanitation faculties for tourists
- Develop adequate infrastructure for aesthetic sanitary hygiene
- Adopt good practices and sustainable tourism
- Create awareness about sanitation and hygiene as part of responsible tourism
Key Aspects of Green Leaf Rating
Marks will be awarded based on three crucial criteria:
- Solid Waste Management: 80 points.
- Fecal Sludge Management: 80 points.
- Greywater Management: 40 points.
These criteria, totaling 200 points, will be evaluated by the District Committee.
District Level Committee
The district-level committee for the Green Leaf Rating System will be chaired by the Collector, including:
- CEO of the Gram Panchayat (G.P.)
- Deputy CEO of the Panchayat Department
- Deputy CEO of the Water Supply and Sanitation Mission (Member Secretary)
- District representatives of the state government, tourism department, district coordinator (SBM), and representatives of panchayati raj institutions.
The committee will rate facilities based on reports received from the sub-divisional magistrate committee at the taluka level.
Impact on Tourism
Across the country, the Green Leaf Rating System is expected to have a significant impact. The scheme is designed to motivate tourists and tourism businesses to adopt sustainable practices under programs like ‘Travel for Life’ and ‘Mission Life’.
Operators of hospitality facilities in rural areas, including resorts, hotels, homestays, and dharamshalas, are expected to:
- Easier for tourists to evaluate places of stay
- Develop adequate infrastructure
- Maintain the ‘ODF Plus’ standard of cleanliness
- Encourage responsible tourism
Conclusion
The introduction of the Green Leaf Rating System marks a significant step towards ensuring that cleanliness and hygiene are prioritized in the hospitality industry. By focusing on these aspects, the initiative aims to provide tourists with clean and healthy accommodations, promoting sustainable tourism practices nationwide.
