In an effort to promote safe sanitation in 441 cities and towns, the Union Urban Development Ministry has recently launched a project to rate the cities as red, black, blue or green. The parameters for the rating will include complete elimination of open defecation & scavenging and safe collection & disposal of total human excreta. Three agencies – AC Nielsen, Development & Research Services Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, and Centre for Environment Planning Technology, Ahmedabad, have been roped in for rating the cities.