Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called upon citizens to participate in a nationwide cleanliness drive on October 1 ahead of Gandhi Jayanti.
The call to action – “Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath” – aims to unite citizens from every corner of the country for one hour of collective “shramdaan” on October 1 starting at 10 am.
“A big event on cleanliness is going to be organised on October 1 i.e. on 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,” PM Modi said during the 105th edition of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat.
The mega cleanliness drive encourages citizens to actively participate in cleaning activities across various public spaces, including marketplaces, railway tracks, water bodies, tourist destinations, and religious sites.
It will involve citizens from all walks of life, as well as government sectors such as civil aviation, railways, and information technology. Public institutions will facilitate cleanliness events led by citizens, NGOs, RWAs and private organisations.
Interested parties can apply online via the Swachhata Hi Seva – Citizens Portal https://swachhatahiseva.com/, where information about the cleanliness events will be made available. Citizens are also encouraged to upload pictures of their efforts on the portal.
You can join the movement and become a Swachhata Ambassador,by taking part in this historic event on October 1st, 2023, at 10 am.
The Initiative is part of the broader “Swachhata Pakhwada- Swachhata Hi Seva 2023” which started on September 15th and will continue until October 2.
During this period, citizens have been engaging in various cleanliness activities, including the restoration of old buildings, cleaning of water bodies, painting walls, conducting street plays, and rangoli competitions. The response has been overwhelming, with over 5 crore citizens participating in the Pakhwada fortnight so far.
Notably, the Prime Minister had initiated the Swachh Bharat Mission nine years ago, which sparked a national movement towards cleanliness. Citizens enthusiastically embraced this mission, making swachhata a part of the national behaviour.