No holiday on October 2; government's employees to take cleanliness pledge

NEW DELHI: All central government employees have been asked to be present in their offices on October 2 to take cleanliness pledge as part of the Narendra Modi government's 'Clean India' campaign.

October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, is otherwise a national holiday.

The employees will be administered ' Swachhata Shapath' (pledge of cleanliness) in government offices, public functions and events on October 2, said a directive issued by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth to all central government secretaries.

"Each ministry should participate in this national endeavour and undertake cleanliness and awareness campaign in a befitting manner," Seth said.

The cleanliness drives led by senior officials will be undertaken in all government and public offices, it said.

The Prime Minister will on October 2 launch 'clean India' campaign, a mass movement aimed at cleaning the country.

A week-long drive has also been started from today to get rid of clutter, garbage and weed out old and unwanted things from government office premises, the directive said.

"There is a need to create massive public awareness and to ensure participation and action for cleaning homes, government offices, schools, hospitals, work places, streets, roads and markets, railway station and bus terminals, statues, monuments, rivers, lakes, ponds and other public places," it said.

Modi had on August 15 announced the launch of the campaign.

"I come from a poor family, I have seen poverty. The poor need respect and it begins with cleanliness. I, therefore, have to launch a 'clean India' campaign from October 2 this year and carry it forward in four years," Modi had said in his speech on Independence Day from the Red Fort.

The Cabinet Secretary had earlier also written to secretaries of central government departments pressing the need for clean working spaces.