Swachh Bharat: Kerala launches month-long cleanliness drive

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Joining the nation in the cleanliness drive on Gandhi Jayanti today, a month-long sanitation-cum-awareness campaign was launched in Kerala, roping in government and voluntary agencies.

Leading from the front, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the plastic removal drive in the state capital.

The programme, chalked out by the local administration department, is being carried out with the help of various state agencies and voluntary outfits.

Besides Government agencies like Suchitwa Mission and civic bodies, participation of women empowerment movement Kudumbashree, political parties and voluntary agencies down to the level of residential associations have been enlisted for the drive, Panchayat Minister M K Muneer said.

The campaign has set as its broader goals creation of awareness about good practices like keeping clean sanitation facilities at home and public places, sorting home-generated waste and processing bio-degradable material at source and keeping educational institutions, hospitals, offices and wedding halls free from plastic.