On September 12, this year, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi announced the launch of “Swachhta hi seva” campaign, commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It is a part of the Swachh Bharat campaign and will go on for two weeks (September 15-October 2), concluding on Gandhi’s birth anniversary, as well as the fourth-year anniversary of Swachh Bharat.
What is Swachhta hi seva?
“From today till October 2, let us rededicate ourselves towards fulfilling Bapu’s dream of a Clean India”, said the PM on September, 15th, when the campaign was launched.
Swachhta hi seva is being put forward as a cleanliness and awareness drive, aimed at encouraging participation in the Swachh Bharat Movement. A day prior to the launch, PM Modi sent letters to about 2,000 citizens, urging them to extend their support to the cause. These include former judges, CWG, Asian games medallists etc. The campaign has already managed to attract the support of some renowned names, like- Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ratan Tata etc.
The campaign will be observed across the length and breadth of the nation, with people from across India participating in multiple cleanliness drives. PM Modi has called Swachhta hi seva “a great way to pay tributes to Bapu”(Mahatma Gandhi), further adding that those who are working for the cleanliness campaign will be remembered like the freedom fighters.
A brief timeline
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (mission), was one of the first initiatives to be launched by the Modi government when it came to power in 2014. It is a nationwide campaign with the aim to clean up Indian streets, roads, and the general infrastructure, i.e. an all-inclusive cleanliness mission. It has managed to gain considerable popularity and support over the years, so much so that, it is now known as India’s largest ever cleanliness drive.
The “Swachhta hi seva” campaign was introduced as part of the Swachh Bharat, both to commemorate its anniversary, and also to encourage more people to participate in the movement. However, back in 2017, the President of India, Ram Nath Govind, launched a jan aandolan with the same name. It also mobilised people between September 15th – October, 2nd (of 2017), urging them to participate in the cleanliness drive.
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and consequently, Swacchta hi Seva are both key movements by the government of India to succeed in its “clean India” aim. With the Prime Minister, along with several other well-known names taking it to the streets with brooms, the campaign has managed to gain the fancy of plenty of countrymen.
