As part of the nationwide Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, launched Swachhata Pakhwada on 17^th September 2024. The two-week initiative aimed at promoting cleanliness and fostering a sense of collective responsibility across communities, was inaugurated in DEPwD by the Secretary, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, by administering the Swachhata Pledge to all officers and employees. The campaign has successfully engaged multiple National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres (CRCs) under the department, emphasizing the need for sustained cleanliness efforts.

In his address, Shri Aggarwal emphasized, "Cleanliness is not just a campaign but our shared responsibility. Together, we must ensure that our surroundings remain clean, transforming this initiative into a mass movement." His call for action resonated strongly with all participants, setting the tone for the ongoing activities.

Key highlights of the Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign included the active participation of the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID), Secunderabad, which held a Swachhata Pledge ceremony on the same day. Staff and students came together to reaffirm their commitment to cleanliness and environmental sustainability, acknowledging the importance of maintaining cleanliness in their day-to-day lives.

At the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (AYJNISHD (D)), Mumbai, the institute took part in the Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) campaign, a 15-day initiative beginning on 14^th September and concluding on 2^nd October 2024. This programme, aimed at inspiring behavioral change and promoting cleanliness as part of the broader Swachh Bharat Mission, involved participants from diverse backgrounds, including students, officials, individuals with speech and hearing impairments, and Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) staff. The pledge taken by all participants reaffirmed their dedication to the campaign’s mission of creating a cleaner and more hygienic society.

Another significant contribution came from the Composite Regional Centre (CRC) in Nellore, operating under the administrative control of NIEPID. On 17^th September 2024, CRC-Nellore, led by Shri G. Ramanjulu, organized a Swachhata Pledge ceremony that involved staff members, students of the D.Ed Special Education program, physiotherapy interns, PwDs and their parents. The event highlighted the importance of cleanliness as a shared societal responsibility, further strengthening the campaign's outreach.

The Swachhata Hi Seva campaign has successfully galvanized individuals from various Institutes and communities to embrace cleanliness as a core value. These initiatives underscore the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities’ ongoing leadership in promoting a cleaner, healthier, and more inclusive society through its unwavering support of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

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VM