‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ Campaign Sweeps Across All 23 Districts of Punjab
In Punjab, the Swachhata Hi Sewa 2023 campaign is witnessing great enthusiasm among the masses. Prominent figures, including politicians and district administrators, launched the campaign across all 23 districts on 15th September, 2023. Various state government departments including department of Water Supply and Sanitation have joined forces to organize cleanliness drives and disseminate messages about keeping our surroundings clean to achieve the goal of a ‘Garbage-Free India’. These activities were carried out at public places like markets, zoological parks, city parks, and small water bodies in cities and villages; and also, in institutional premises such as Anganwadi centers, schools, and government offices across the state. So far, over 64 lakh Punjab residents have participated in over 10,868 campaign activities, contributing around 3.63 crore man-hours, and approximately 10,000 images uploaded on the Swachhata Hi Sewa portal.
Repairing, painting, and cleaning of sanitation assets brought rural and urban volunteers and residents together for a common goal in their respective areas. Various cleaning and plogging drives cleared waste from water bodies and public places. Shramdaan (volunteering) saw the participation of more than 20 lakh people, completing approximately 4875 activities, including cleaning of 1269 institutional buildings, 948 public places, 782 garbage-prone sites, 305 water bodies, 116 riverside and waterfront areas, 71 legacy waste sites, 61 community sanitary complexes, and 58 iconic tourist spots.
Awareness activities and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns were conducted among school children to promote clean and hygienic habits and proper garbage disposal through the ‘Hara Geela Sookha Neela’ campaign, emphasizing the importance of waste segregation at an impressionable age. At the school level, Swachhata pledges and activities focused on waste-to-wealth objectives to ensure children become responsible citizens and contribute to a circular economy. Special exposure visits for students included sessions on water quality testing and visits to solid waste management project sites to understand sewage treatment processes and advanced technologies.
The Indian Swachhata League 2.0 garnered significant participation from Punjab’s youth, with cycle rallies and Swachhata runs organized to spread the message of cleanliness. The Municipal Council of Nangal in Rupnagar deserves special mention for actively participating in all activities and conducting an awareness rally that emphasized alternatives to Single-Use Plastic (SUP) and waste segregation at places like bus stands, parking lots, and forested areas.
