Swachh Bharat: States asked to gear up for cleanliness campaign from September 25

NEW DELHI: The Centre has asked all states to gear up for an intensive national cleanliness campaign from September 25 to achieve the goal of ' Swachh Bharat' or Clean India by 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth has sent a letter to state chief secretaries detailing the steps to be taken for the successful campaign on cleanliness.

"... For a campaign of this nature to be successful, there is a need for creating massive public awareness and for participation and action for cleaning homes, government offices, schools, hospitals, work places, streets, roads and markets, railway stations and bus terminals, statues, monuments, rivers, lakes, ponds, parks and other public places," said Seth in his letter.

The Cabinet Secretary has also asked the states to involve government and public sector officials at every level, non- government organisations, education and health institutions, rural and urban local bodies, self-help groups, youth organisations, resident and market associations as well as business and industrial chambers and associations in the cleanliness and awareness drive.

Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to translate 'Swachh Bharat' as a mass movement to realise Mahatma Gandhi's dream of Clean India, Seth said that a variety of activities such as pledge-taking, marches, marathons, debates, street plays, music and essay competitions, cleaning drives and other community activities may be used to focus public attention on the campaign and on the need for cleanliness.

The letter also spoke about effective use of mass media such as radio, television and newspapers, digital media such as Internet and mobile and direct media to spread the message.

The design of the campaign should be flexible, innovative and appropriate to local needs, it said.

While the campaign will begin on September 25, it has been decided that on October 2, 'Swachhta Shapath' (pledge) will be administered to all in government offices and public events, the letter added.