Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign Launched

Last Updated on October 28, 2018 by Bharat Saini

‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign that aims at generating greater public participation towards Swachhta was launched by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on Saturday September 15, in the run up to the 4^th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission on the 2^nd of October 2018, which will also mark the commencement of the 150^th year celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi; exhorts people to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of clean India. Prime Minister said his government is working for “waste to wealth” and sought contributions from everybody. “The government alone cannot do it,” he added.

President Ram Nath Kovind taking ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ campaign to a higher trajectory kicked off the fortnight-long Cleanliness drive from Uttar Pradesh and honoured the village-level champions who contributed in making Ishwariganj village near Kanpur open defecation free. Before launching the campaign, Kovind made people take a pledge to keep their surroundings clean.

Preisdent Kovind said, “India is fighting a decisive battle for cleanliness and hygiene. Cleanliness is not only the responsibility of sanitation personnel and government departments, it is a multi-stakeholder movement,” and added, “Together we should make the effort to clean our houses, public places, villages and cities. Achieving the goals of the Swachh Bharat Mission expeditiously will be an appropriate tribute to Mahatma Gandhi”.

Prime Minister interacting via video conferencing with a cross-section of people from 17 locations across the country said, “Nobody had imagined that in four years, 9 crore of toilets would be constructed, and almost 4.5 lakhs of villages will come in the category of Open Defecation Free (ODF). Have you ever imagined that more than 450 Zilas and over 20 states will get freed from open defecation? This is the strength of India and the Indians.” He emphasized that providing facilities such as toilets or dustbins is not enough, and added that cleanliness or Swachhta is a habit that has to be inculcated.

Prime Minister travelled to the Babasaheb Ambedkar Higher Secondary School, at Rani Jhansi Road in central Delhi to participate in the cleanliness drive and exhort young students towards the cause of Swachhata.

Prime Minister interacted with Amitabh Bachchan and Noted industrialist Ratan Tata from Mumbai; Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev from Coimbatore; Women Swachhagrahis from Dantewada in Chhattisgarh and Salem in Tamil Nadu; Spiritual leaders and citizens from Patna Sahib Gurudwara and Dadi Jankiji from Mt Abu; and other people from cross section of society; who shared details of their work for the Clean India Mission.

Ratan Tata during his interaction from Gateway of India in Mumbai said, “Health of our people, like foundation of any monument, has to be strong and health can’t be without cleanliness: Tata trust has spent over 100 crores in past 4 years towards”.  “The Tata Trusts are actively supporting the Swachh Bharat Mission and our support will continue in the years to come especially in bringing more technology in ensuring a clean India. I congratulate you for a courageous move in the form of Swachh Bharat Mission. We are no longer taking the health of our people for granted. We are devoting manpower for a strong India and focussing on healthcare. The health of our people cannot be there without sanitation and cleanliness. We can reduce and eliminate several diseases if we support the Swachh Bharat Movement.”

Prime Minister while launching the Swachhata Hi Seva Movement said:

• The contribution of India’s Nari Shakti (women power) in the Swachh Bharat (clean India) Mission is immense.
• Youngsters are ambassadors of social change. The way they have furthered the message of cleanliness is commendable. The youth are at the forefront of a positive change in India.
• The credit for the success of Swachhata Abhiyan goes to the people of this nation and not the government alone.
• Let us rededicate ourselves towards fulfilling Bapu’s dream of a Clean India.

Swachhata Hi Seva Mission has been generating tremendous enthusiasm among all walks of life. Eminent citizens such as Sri Sri Ravi Shankari, Akshay Kumar, and others have given their support to the movement.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar tweeted, “Purity, both external & internal, is essential for progress in life” and the Prime Minister thanked him for the invaluable support to the Swachh Bharat Mission and giving a clarion call to work for a Clean India.