Modi to launch “Swachh Bharat” mission on Gandhi Jayanti

PM Nrendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Aimed at creating “clean India” in next five years, Prime Minister Narendra Singh Modi will launch the ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission on Thursday. According to PM Modi, mission’s launch on October 2 is aimed at giving a great tribute to our Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on his the 150th birth anniversary in 2019 as he had a penchant for cleanliness in his daily routine.

According to Census 2011, only 32.70 percent of rural households had access to toilets in India. “India continues to have the largest number of people in the world defecating in the open.” A UN report released this year says. Modi made this campaign at top priority, and he has continuously spoken about it in all his major speeches, including his Independence Day address.

Government Officials will be administered by an oath at 9.45 am on Thursday, to improve cleanliness. In order to administer the “cleanliness oath”, President’s secretariat and attached offices will remain open on October 2 in forenoon, a release from Rashtrapati Bhavan says. About 31 lakh central govt. employees across the country will take this oath as a part of the cleanliness mission.

Industry associations, the corporate sector, and academic institutions are expected to be the part of the campaign enthusiastically.

“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.

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Union human resource development minister Smriti Irani sweeps the ground at a school in New Delhi as she participates in clean India mission on Wednesday. (PTI photo)

In addition to it, on Wednesday Smriti Irani, Human resource development minister released a handbook – ‘Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya’ to encourage hygiene and cleanliness in schools across the country.

However, Mr. Jitendra Singh, Science and technology Minister urged his staff members to devote at least two hours per week as “shramdaan” to achieve PM’s goal of “clean India”. On the other hand, a release stated that Mr. Sumit Mazumder, president designate, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), has launched ‘Mission-Sanitation of Schools (SoS)’ to strengthen the Swachh Bharat initiative.
“CII will mobilize construction of 10,000 toilets in the first phase (by the end of 2015-2016). Based on the feedback received and assessments on the ground, in the next six months, CII will announce targets for the second phase,” said CII.

Ministers such as Ravi Shankar Prasad and Uma Bharati are travelling to different cities to create awareness regarding cleanliness among people.

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A file photo of Union water resources minister Uma Bharti taking part in clean India mission at Shram Shakti Bhavan in New Delhi. (PTI photo)

Govt. school principles gave their suggestions for improvements in cleanliness in an open house discussion at Thyagraj Stadium under the ‘Swachh Vidyalaya-Swachh Delhi Abhiyan’.

The AAP said that it would join in the cleanliness mission on Oct 2, but wouldn’t be the part of PM’s of the ”Swachh Bharat Abhiyan”. “AAP will join Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on 2nd Oct. But condition of safai karamchari ought to be improved if we want a clean India.” Arvind Kejriwal,  AAP chief tweeted.

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