New Delhi, September 13, 2024 – The government of India launched the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2024 campaign today at a special event at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan. This event marks a major step in the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), a nationwide cleanliness initiative that began in 2014.
The theme for this year’s campaign is “Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskar Swachhata”. The focus is on collective action and getting citizens involved in keeping India clean. There are three main areas of focus for the campaign:
- Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) – Volunteers will work to clean up specific dirty spots around the country through a series of events.
- Swachhata Mein Jan Bhagidari – This involves public participation and spreading awareness about keeping the surroundings clean.
- Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivirs – These camps will provide health checkups and social security for the sanitation workers who help keep our streets clean.
Key Highlights from the Launch Event
At today’s event, several important leaders were present. These included Shri Manohar Lal, the Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs, and Shri C R Patil, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti. The event included speeches, media interaction, and a curtain raiser to officially begin the campaign.
Shri Manohar Lal spoke about how the Swachh Bharat Mission started under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. He emphasized that since humans create waste, it is our responsibility to manage it. He proudly shared that 73% of garbage is now being processed and 97% of waste collection is happening in nearly 4,000 cities across India. Additionally, 427 garbage dumps have been cleaned since 2021.
He also urged the media to help spread the message of the campaign by highlighting the importance of cleaning Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs). More than 1 lakh CTUs have already been identified on the campaign portal, and citizens are encouraged to take part.
Union Minister C R Patil praised the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Modi for making cleanliness a national priority. He highlighted that the government has set aside ₹1.40 lakh crore from 2020 to 2025 for sanitation efforts. As of today, over 2.92 lakh villages have been declared ODF Plus (Open Defecation Free Plus), and more than 11.6 crore toilets have been built across the country.
Additional Highlights:
- Mega Cleanliness Drives: Across both rural and urban areas, large-scale clean-up activities will target challenging garbage spots. These clean-up events will see citizens and organizations coming together.
- Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivirs: These special camps will help sanitation workers by providing health check-ups, safety gear, and information on social welfare programs to ensure their well-being.
- Cultural Fests and Swachh Food Streets: There will be community engagement through cultural events, art installations, and clean food streets to show the importance of cleanliness.
- Public Participation and Advocacy: Citizens will be encouraged to join in rallies, marathons, and community talks to take ownership of keeping their neighborhoods clean.
At the event, officials from the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM-G), MoHUA, MoRD, and DDWS discussed the progress made and how to move forward. There was also an online interaction with state representatives, showing the campaign’s national reach.
The event ended with a Swachhata Pledge, where everyone renewed their commitment to cleanliness. The day concluded with the National Anthem, bringing everyone together in the spirit of the campaign.
Join the Movement!
To learn more and get involved in Swachhata Hi Seva 2024, visit the official website: https://swachhatahiseva.gov.in.
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