Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Ek Tareekh, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath’ campaign for cleanliness, Union Minister of State for Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi, participated in a cleanliness drive near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on Saturday, as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission). Lekhi’s participation in the cleanliness drive comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for a nationwide cleanliness drive on October 1, 2023, at 10 a.m. In a tweet, PM Modi urged people across the country to take part in the drive, saying that Swachh Bharat is a shared responsibility and every effort counts.
She also hit out the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and said that the AAP government has not worked regarding the segregation of waste and there is no cleanliness on the dividers in Delhi. Meenakshi Lekhi said, ” They have not worked regarding the segregation of waste. There is no cleanliness on the dividers. Swachh Bharat is the responsibility of all of us and we should work together. I hope the Delhi government will come forward and work for cleanliness.”Earlier during his 105th episode of Mann ki Baat, PM Modi said, “A big event on cleanliness is going to be organized on October 1 that is on Sunday at 10 am. You too should take your time and help in this campaign related to cleanliness. You can also join this cleanliness campaign in your street, or neighborhood, or at a park, river, lake, or any other public place.”
“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,” PM Modi said.
‘Ek Tareekh, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath’ campaign is a mega cleanliness drive to mark the celebration of Gandhi Jayanti. This initiative is a run-up to the ‘Swachhata Pakhwada- Swachhata Hi Seva’ 2023 campaign. This follows PM Modi’s appeal for one hour of ‘Shramdaan for swachhata’ at 10 am on 1st Oct by all citizens.
In every town, Gram Panchayat, all sectors of the government like civil aviation, railways, and public institutions will be facilitating cleanliness events led by the citizens.
A special portal has been set up to help organizations put up different events. This portal will also invite influencers and citizens to join this people’s movement as Swachhata Ambassadors.
People can click pictures and upload them on the portal to mark their presence. The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on October 2, 2014, with an aim to make the country open defecation-free and also universal sanitation coverage.
Earlier in 2021, PM Modi launched Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 to make all Indian cities ‘Garbage Free’ and ‘Water Secure’.Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM-U) 2.0 was launched on October 1, 2021, for a period of five years with a vision of achieving Garbage Free Status for all cities through 100 percent source segregation, door-to-door collection and scientific management of all fractions of waste including safe disposal in scientific landfills. It is also aimed at remediation of all legacy dumpsites and converting them into green zones.
Exhorting the people across the country to get involved in the cleanliness campaign, PM Modi said taking the campaign forward would be a giant step towards fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a clean India.
