A Study of Civic Awareness Regarding the Municipal Corporation and Solid Waste Management Systems in the City of Indore

Abstract

The objective of urban administration extends beyond the maintenance of roads, drains, water supply, and public spaces; it also encompasses providing citizens with a clean, safe, and healthy living environment. Rapid urbanization, population growth, shifting consumption patterns, and the expansion of commercial activities are altering both the volume and the nature of solid waste in cities.

The study employed descriptive and analytical research methods, analyzing primary data collected from 152 respondents. According to the findings, 47.37 percent of respondents have partial knowledge of the Municipal Corporation’s core functions, while 31.58 percent possess a clear understanding of these responsibilities. Regarding waste collection, 64.47 percent of respondents confirmed that collection takes place on a regular, daily basis.

In terms of waste segregation at the household level, 73.68 percent of respondents regularly separate their waste, 15.13 percent do so occasionally, and 11.19 percent do not segregate waste at all. An analysis of awareness regarding different categories of waste revealed that 56.58 percent of respondents are aware of two or three types of waste, while 15.13 percent have very little or no knowledge at all. Regarding the Municipal Corporation’s sanitation system, 38.16 percent of respondents expressed satisfaction, and 35.53 percent reported being partially satisfied. Conversely, 47.37 percent of respondents were unaware of the mechanisms available for grievance redressal, and 44.08 percent of citizens did not participate in sanitation-related activities.

The study concludes that the effectiveness of the solid waste management system in Indore does not depend solely on administrative resources and technical infrastructure; rather, citizen awareness, responsible behavior, and active participation play a crucial role. Consequently, the research paper recommends increasing awareness about the Municipal Corporation’s services, conducting behavioral training for household-level waste segregation, ensuring the regularity of waste collection, simplifying and enhancing the transparency of the grievance redressal system, and engaging citizens in sanitation campaigns.

Overall, the study concludes that for effective solid waste management, a clean urban environment, and sustainable urban development, it is essential to establish coordination between the administrative efficiency of the municipal corporation and the active participation of citizens.