The morning sun had barely risen over Shastri Bhawan when officers and staff of the Department of Legal Affairs wore gloves, masks in place, and picked up brooms and watering cans. The premises of the Main Secretariat, a space of legal deliberation and paperwork turned, for an hour, into a site of collective action, energy, and service.

As part of the nationwide campaign “Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath: Voluntary Shramdaan” under Swachhata Hi Seva 2025, officers and staff of the Department — led by Union Law Secretary Dr. Anju Rathi Rana — stepped out of their offices and came together to devote one hour of voluntary service towards cleaning public spaces, conducting sensitisation drives and raising awareness on sustainable cleanliness practices.

It was not just about sweeping dust or lifting debris. It was about reclaiming neglected corners, sprucing up spots that often look clean enough but hide waste in plain sight, and taking responsibility for garbage points that are easy to overlook yet hardest to clean. There was something deeply symbolic in the sight: white caps, bright gloves, and hands working in unison. Officers pulled out weeds, cleared dry leaves, and watered plants, while sanitation workers stood shoulder to shoulder with them — no hierarchy, only shared resolve.

Dr. Rana, while participating in the drive, remarked that cleanliness must not remain a symbolic gesture. “It is a discipline, a mindset, and a responsibility,” she said. “When every hand comes together, neglected spaces transform, and the spirit of seva becomes a way of life. Cleanliness is not just about sanitation drives, but about nurturing habits and values that sustain a healthy society. ‘Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath’ reflects the power of collective action, where every hand and every effort contributes to a cleaner, stronger India.” The initiative, inspired by the call of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, aims to reinforce the spirit of collective responsibility towards cleanliness and nation-building.

The effort was not confined to the Main Secretariat premises alone. Across the country, the Department’s attached and subordinate offices joined in for this campaign. The Central Agency Section carried out a drive outside the Indian Law Institute, with officers and advocates of the Supreme Court Bar Association joining in. The Law Commission of India organised a community cleanup programme where more than 15 participants removed around 20 bags of waste. Officers from the Indian Law Institute, the India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC), Delhi High Court, Tis Hazari Court, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal’s all 30 benches across the nation, and Branch Secretariats in Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai each took up their own corners of the country — from temple premises to civic locations, from office corridors to public places — proving that swachhata is a shared duty, no matter the place.

By the end of the drive, dustbins were filled, pathways cleared, and small patches of green given fresh life. Yet the true achievement lay beyond what could be seen — it was in the coming together of a community, in the reminder that nation-building begins with small acts of responsibility, repeated day after day.

The observance echoed the core message of Swachhata Hi Seva — that true seva lies in action, discipline, and responsibility towards the environment. The Department of Legal Affairs stands committed to contributing to the national movement for a “Clean India – Developed India” (Swachh Bharat – Viksit Bharat).

On 24th September, the Main Secretariat also held a Swacchata pledge ceremony, honouring their commitment to cleanliness as a way of life. Safai mitras, the unsung cleanliness heroes of our everyday spaces, were recognised and felicitated for their invaluable service. The day also witnessed an essay competition where participants penned down their thoughts.

Observed from 17th September to 2nd October 2025, the campaign marks a fortnight of intensive activities on cleanliness and sanitation across the nation. It culminates on Swachh Bharat Diwas (2nd October – Gandhi Jayanti), paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of a clean and self-reliant India.

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Samrat/Allen

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