29th September 2023, Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon the people of India to come together for a nationwide cleanliness drive on October 1, just ahead of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. He emphasized that Swachh Bharat, or Clean India, is a shared responsibility, and every individual’s efforts count.
105th episode of Mann ki Baat
In a tweet, PM Modi announced the initiative, stating, “1st October at 10 AM, we come together for a pivotal cleanliness initiative. A Swachh Bharat is a shared responsibility, and every effort counts. Join this noble endeavor to usher in a cleaner future.” During his 105th episode of Mann ki Baat, PM Modi had previously announced the forthcoming cleanliness drive, encouraging citizens to participate. He urged people to dedicate time and contribute to the campaign by cleaning their streets, neighborhoods, parks, rivers, lakes, or any other public places.
‘Ek Tareekh, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath’
The ‘Ek Tareekh, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath’ Campaign is part of the celebrations for Gandhi Jayanti and serves as a precursor to the ‘Swachhata Pakhwada- Swachhata Hi Seva’ 2023 campaign. PM Modi had called for one hour of ‘Shramdaan for swachhata’ at 10 am on October 1, involving all citizens. This nationwide initiative will involve towns, Gram Panchayats, various government sectors such as civil aviation, railways, and public institutions, all working together to facilitate cleanliness events led by citizens. A dedicated portal has been set up to help organizations organize different events, and it invites influencers and citizens to join as Swachhata Ambassadors. Participants can upload photos to the portal to mark their presence.
PM Modi’s call for a cleanliness drive
The Swachh Bharat Mission, launched on October 2, 2014, aimed to make India open defecation-free and achieve universal sanitation coverage. In 2021, PM Modi introduced Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, focusing on making all Indian cities ‘Garbage Free’ and ‘Water Secure.’ This initiative spans five years and envisions achieving garbage-free status for all cities through source segregation, door-to-door collection, scientific waste management, and the remediation of legacy dumpsites. PM Modi’s call for a cleanliness drive reflects his commitment to fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a clean India. By actively participating in this campaign, citizens can contribute to the ongoing efforts to improve sanitation and hygiene across the nation.
By Yashika Desai