'Swachch Bharat' should become a people's movement: Venkaiah Naidu

VISAKHAPATNAM: Urging people to voluntarily contribute towards keeping the surroundings clean, Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu today said the Centre's ' Swachch Bharat Abhiyan' should become a public movement.

" Mahatma Gandhi had made an inspiring statement that cleanliness is next to godliness. According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), an average of Rs 6,500 per person was lost in India due to lack of cleanliness and hygiene," Naidu said.

The minister was talking to reporters after taking part in the cleanliness programme at Ramakrishana beach in the Hudhud cyclone-hit port city of Visakhapatnam under the 'Swachch Bharat'.

"The purpose of Swachch Bharat mission is that it should become a people's movement and all the citizens should take part in the cleanliness mission," Naidu said.

"People should voluntarily join the movement and contribute towards keeping their houses, neighbourhood, schools, offices, temples clean and green. It will bring happiness and health to the people," he said.

According to him, 'Swachch Bharat' is not a political programme and there should be no politics over it.

'Swachch Bharat Abhiyan' was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.