Narendra Modi’s ‘Clean India’ campaign kicks off, 31 lakh employees to take cleanliness pledge
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India campaign at Rajpath in New Delhi on Thursday, coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.
About 31 lakh central government employees working across the country will take a pledge of cleanliness in various public functions as part of the Narendra Modi administration’s ‘Clean India’ campaign.
Swachh Bharat Campaign: Prime Minister Narendra Modi clears litter at Valmiki Basti #MyCleanIndia pic.twitter.com/QgVXz6sit0
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 2, 2014Swachh Bharat Campaign: PM Narendra Modi interacts with 'Safai Karamcharis'(Janiators) at Valmiki Basti #MyCleanIndia pic.twitter.com/H7fZgiK2QD
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 2, 2014In addition, lakhs of state government employees have been asked to be part of this massive drive.
Read: Government to rope in business houses, RWAs for 'Clean India' drive
“It has been decided that on October 2, ‘Swachhta Shapath’ (cleanliness pledge) will be administered to all in government offices and public functions or events and cleanliness drive led by senior officers will be undertaken in all government and public offices,” Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth said in a communique to secretaries of all departments.
Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani sweeps the ground at a school in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)
There are about 30.98 lakh central government employees in the country. Each central government department has made plans to administer the oath to its employees.
Read: PM Modi seeks people's views on his 'Clean India' mission
Home Secretary Anil Goswami will administer the cleanliness pledge to employees of Home Ministry and Personnel Ministry on Thursday in North Block premises.
The Prime Minister has given a call for ‘Swachh Bharat’ (Clean India) as a mass movement to realise Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a clean India by 2019, when the country will celebrate 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation.
Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti picks up litter as she takes part in 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ at Shram Shakti Bhavan, in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)
“For a campaign of this nature to be successful, there is a need to create massive public awareness and to ensure participation and action for cleaning homes, government offices, schools, hospitals, work places, streets, roads and markets, railway stations and bus terminals, statues, monuments, rivers, lakes, ponds, parks and other public places.
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“It is important to involve government and public sector officials at every level, non-government organisations, education and health institutions, rural and urban local bodies, self-help groups, youth organisations, resident and market associations as well as business and industrial chambers and associations in the cleanliness and awareness drives,” Seth said in his letter.
Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Law and Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad, sweeps an area outside Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi (Photo: PTI)
A variety of activities such as pledge-taking marches, marathons, debates, street plays, music and essay competitions, cleaning drives and other community activities may be used to focus public attention on this campaign and on the need for cleanliness, Seth said.
Meanwhile, the departments heads have swung into action and directed concerned officials to clear office premises of clutter, garbage, building materials, unused vehicles and others.
Delhi : AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal cleaning a drain at BR camp #MyCleanIndia pic.twitter.com/1vOyULic05
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 2, 2014