Drawing inspiration from Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision and mission to institutionalize Swachhta and minimize pendency in Government, Department of Science and Technology launched the Special Campaign 3.0 (implementation phase) from 2^nd October to 31^st October 2023 with special impetus on disposal of pendency, better space management and making the environment and government infrastructures clean and green.

The Department of Science and Technology has successfully completed its Special Campaign 3.0 underlining Swachhta, which was conducted within the Department and across its Sections/Divisions/Autonomous Bodies/Subordinate Offices located in various parts of the country. The campaign started with a preparatory phase from September 15^th, 2023 to identify targets to be readied for cleaning and space management during the campaign period.

During the campaign, special focus was given to space management and enhancement of workplace experience in offices. Since the beginning of the Preparatory Phase of the Special Campaign, the Department along with its Sections/Divisions/Autonomous Bodies/Subordinate Offices identified various sites to be cleaned across the country. Around 150 sites were identified for cleaning and 20 thousand sq. ft. area was anticipated to be freed, more than 8,000 physical files and around 140 e-files were identified for review. Daily progress was monitored by a dedicated team and information was uploaded regularly on the SCPDM portal hosted by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.

Joint Secretary (Admin), Smt. A. Dhanalakshmi actively reviewed the campaign progress through various hybrid VC meetings and visited many sites inside the office premises as a part of ongoing Special Campaign 3.0. She appreciated the efforts of the officials and encouraged them to channel their best efforts to maintain cleanliness at workplace.

(Meeting with representatives of all AIs/Subordinate Offices of DST in hybrid mode to review progress of various targets of the Campaign under chairpersonship of JS (Admn.), DST)

Many best practices were also undertaken under the Special Campaign 3.0 during implementation phase at the Department and across its Sections/Divisions/Autonomous Bodies/Subordinate Offices like to list a few,

Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, an Autonomous Institute of DST identified rubbles on its campus and after scraping it, utilised it to make pavement for the general walking area in the premise.

(Rubbles cleared and used to make pavement at INST Mohali)

Swachhata Awareness Programme was undertaken by International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an Autonomous Institution under DST for college students. They also organised a drawing competition for Government School Children under theme of “Garbage-free India”.

(Swachhata Awareness Programme by ACRI for college students)

(Drawing Competition for students on Garbage-free India)

Jute bags and metal bottles were distributed at Coolie Camp, Vasant Vihar and MCD Boys and Girls School to discourage the use of single use plastic by DST under campaign led by JS (Admn.).

(Distribution of Jute bags and Metal bottles to discourage the use of single-use plastic)

The October Campaign ended with achievement surpassing the targets on many fronts, the Department along with its Sections/Divisions/Autonomous Bodies/Subordinate Offices enthusiastically participated in the Special Campaign 3.0 and celebrated it as a cleanliness festival at more than 300 sites. This year a remarkable area of 37 thousand sq. ft. has been freed. The targeted files, both physical and e-files were reviewed and many files were closed and weeded out as part of minimizing pendency under the Campaign. The Department along with its Sections/Divisions/Autonomous Bodies/Subordinate Offices generated revenue of Rs. 8.33 lakhs by disposing of the scraps identified and collected during the campaign. 8,214 files were reviewed and 3066 files were weeded out. 140 e-files were reviewed and out of which 130 e-files were closed.

These efforts highlights only a fraction of work put in by the Department and its Sections/Divisions/Autonomous Bodies/Subordinate Offices.

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SNC/PK