“A clean India would be the best tribute India could pay to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150 birth anniversary in 2019”

These were the words of PM Narendra Modi as he exhorted the citizens of India with the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission at Rajpath in New Delhi. On 2nd October 2014, Swachh Bharat Mission was launched throughout length and breadth of the country as a national movement. The campaign aims to achieve the vision of a ‘Clean India’ by 2nd October 2019.

The Prime Minister next visited the Varanasi on the occasion of Good Governance Day to participate in inauguration of developmental projects. He again picked up a broom and participated in a cleanliness drive at Jagannath Gali near AssiGhat. He expressed happiness at the way citizens and organisations have taken forward the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan since his last visit. He also nominated a combination of 9 prominent individuals and organisations to take forward this campaign.

By invoking people’s participation in the drive, the Swachhta Abhiyan has turned into a National Movement. A sense of responsibility has been evoked among the people through the Clean India Movement. The Prime Minister has helped spread the message of Swachh Bharat by urging people through his words & action. Understanding the significance of sanitation, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has simultaneously addressed the health problems that roughly half of the Indians families have to deal with due to lack of proper toilets in their homes.

People from different walks of life have come forward and joined this campaign for cleanliness. From sportspersons to spiritual leaders, from Army Jawans to Film Actors, from members of the business community to government officials, all have lined up to make India cleaner. Millions of people across the country have been day after day joining the cleanliness initiatives of the government departments, NGOs and local community centres to make India clean.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has become a ‘Jan Andolan’ receiving tremendous support from the people. Citizens too have turned out in large numbers and pledged for a neat and cleaner India. Taking the broom to sweep the streets, cleaning up the garbage, focussing on sanitation and maintaining a hygienic environment have become a practice after the launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. People have started to take part and are helping spread the message of ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness.’

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has become a ‘Jan Andolan’ receiving tremendous support from the people. Citizens too have turned out in large numbers and pledged for a neat and cleaner India. Taking the broom to sweep the streets, cleaning up the garbage, focussing on sanitation and maintaining a hygienic environment have become a practice after the launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. People have started to take part and are helping spread the message of ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness.’