The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ Movement, to boost nationwide public participation in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and catalyse the fulfilment of Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a Clean India.
The Swachhata Hi Seva movement aims at generating greater public participation towards Swachhta. It is being organized in the run up to the fourth anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, on October 2nd, 2018, which will also mark the commencement of the 150th year celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. The Prime Minister urged everyone to be a part of this movement and strengthen the efforts to create a ‘Swachh Bharat’.
He interacted with a cross-section of people from 17 locations across the country, via video conferencing. Initiating the interaction, the Prime Minister shared some key achievement, including how 450 districts in India have become Open Defecation Free within four years. Similarly, 20 States and Union Territories have declared themselves ODF in this period. He emphasized that providing facilities such as toilets or dustbins is not enough, and added that cleanliness or Swachhta is a habit that can be inculcated. He said people from across the country are now participating in the development of this habit.
School children from Dibrugarh in Assam, explained to the Prime Minister, their contributions towards making their school and area, clean. The PM noted that youngsters are ambassadors of social change. The way they have furthered the message of cleanliness is commendable, he added.
From the Gateway of India in Mumbai, actor Amitabh Bachchan explained the various cleanliness activities he has been involved in, including cleaning of a beach in Mumbai. Noted industrialist Ratan Tata also joined the interaction. It is a great honour and privilege to help launch a movement which should be the dream of every citizen of India, he added. The Prime Minister expressed his belief that the private sector has a big role to play in the creation of a Clean India.
#FLASH | PM @narendramodi launches #SwachhataHiSewa movement, the world's largest cleanliness drive that will continue till Oct 2; interacts with people, including Bollywood superstar #AmitabhBachchan. pic.twitter.com/xoChRgCqpz
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) September 15, 2018
The PM also participated in the Swachhata Hi Seva movement by performing Shramdaan at a school in Delhi. Shortly after launching the movement through a video conference interaction, the Prime Minister travelled to the Babasaheb Ambedkar Higher Secondary School, at Rani Jhansi Road in central Delhi.
He offered floral tributes to a statue of Babasahed Ambedkar, and participated in the cleanliness drive. He also interacted with young students at the school, and exhorted them towards the cause of Swachhata. The Prime Minister travelled to, and from the school, in normal traffic, and without customary protocol. No special traffic arrangements were made for his visit.
As part of PM Shri @narendramodi's #SwachhataHiSewa movement, CM Shri @sarbanandsonwal joined hundreds of volunteers in a cleanliness drive at Beltola, Guwahati.
Together, let us create a Jan Andolan to realise Gandhiji's dream of a 'Clean India'. #SHS2018 pic.twitter.com/D7v3kwqgJn
— Chief Minister Assam (@CMOfficeAssam) September 15, 2018
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal joined hundreds of volunteers in a cleanliness drive at Beltola, Guwahati. He inaugurated the Assam leg of Swachhata Hi Seva movement at Boko, Kamrup. The CM also launched 111 Piped Water Supply Schemes across the State under Mission-100 from the venue. Speaking on the occasion the CM urged students and youths of the State to take active part in the Swachhata Hi Seva movement.
