Nine years ago, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,gave a clarion call for swachhata in 2014. Citizens from allwalks of life reciprocated with immense enthusiasm taking the ownership for Swachh Bharat. As a result,swachhata became a national behaviorand Swachh Bharat Mission became a household name.

As a run up to Gandhi Jayanti, a unique call to action has been given by the Prime Minister to fellow citizens.On 105^th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister, appealed for 1 hour of shramdaan for swachhata at 10 am on 1^st Oct by all citizens collectively will be a ‘swachhanjali’ to Bapu on the eve of his Jayanti. Speaking on Swachhata Hi Sevaabhiyan, he said, “A big event on cleanliness is going to be organized on the 1st of October i.e. Sunday at 10 am. You too should take out time and help in this campaign related to cleanliness. You can also join this cleanliness campaign in your street, or neighbourhood…or at a park, river, lake or any other public place.”

This mega cleanliness drive calls upon citizens from all walks of life to join in actualcleaning activities of public places like market spaces, railway tracks water bodiestourist locations, religious places etc. Every town, Gram Panchayat, all sectors of the Government like civil aviation, railways, information & technology etc, public institutions will be facilitating cleanliness events led by the citizens. NGO/ RWA/ Pvt. organization etc. interested in organizing cleaning events can also apply online on the portal to the ULB/ District Administration. The cleanliness events will be available for public information on a specially-architecturedIT platform Swachhata Hi Seva – Citizens Portal https://swachhatahiseva.com/ . At the site of the cleanliness, citizens can click pictures and upload on the portal too. The portal also hosts a section inviting citizens, influencers to join the andolanand lead the people’s movement by becoming Swachhata Ambassadors.

This mega cleanliness drive is part of the SwachhataPakhwada- Swachhata Hi Seva2023, being observed from 15^th Sept till 2^nd Oct.Citizens are engaging in various cleanliness activities likerestoration of old buildings, cleaning of water bodies, ghats, painting walls, conducting nukkadnataks, rangoli competitions. Since the launch of the Pakhwada, over5crorecitizens have joined the Pakhwada fortnight so far.

RKJ/M