DD starts Swachh Bharat show after PM Modi's nudge

NEW DELHI: India's public broadcaster Doordarshan (DD) News has joined the government's renewed push for `swacchta' (cleanliness). It has launched a daily news capsule on `Swachh Bharat' showcasing individual and community initiatives.

DD sources said the daily news capsule started on October 31 also suggests interesting tips for viewers as to how they can take small steps to keep their surroundings clean. Last week Prime Minister Narendra Modi had highlighted the role of media in promoting consciousness awareness about `swacchta'. Even while speaking at India's largest sanitation conference Indosan, Modi had suggested that DD could make a beginning to showcase the efforts and initiatives being made by individuals, groups of citizens and organisations to promote awareness about `swachhta'.

Until recently both print and electronic media had been carrying out campaigns on Swachh Bharat initiatives and in some cases they have also felicitated those doing good work. Sources in DD News said that PM had expressed his wish that news channels should do regular coverage of people's initiative for this national cause.


“As per mandate of DD News was doing various social programmes on social issues like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachhta Mission. But it was felt that there is a need for sustained awareness initiative on such issues,“ said one of the sources.