Chief Minister Inaugurates Statewide ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ Fortnight
Chief Minister Sweeps Telibandha Pond Area, Administers Oath of Cleanliness
Sanitation Workers Honoured with PPE Kits and NGOs Recognised with Certificates of Appreciation
Chief Minister Flags Off Sanitation Vehicles
Raipur, 17 September 2024/ Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai today inaugurated the state-level ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ fortnight at a programme held at Telibandha Pond area in Raipur. During the event, he administered the oath of cleanliness to the citizens and participated in cleaning activities by sweeping Telibandha Talab premises. He also honoured the sanitation workers (Swachhta Didis) and several social organisations, including Green Army, Bunch of Fools, Kuch Farz Hamara Bhi, and Avengers Group, for their contribution towards maintaining cleanliness in the city. Additionally, social worker Mrs. Shubhangi Apte was recognised for her efforts. Chief Minister also flagged off the cleanliness marathon and inaugurated the new sanitation vehicles.
MLAs Shri Motilal Sahu, Shri Purandar Mishra, and Shri Anuj Sharma, along with Mayor Shri Ejaz Dhebar, were present at the event.
In his address, while launching the ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ campaign in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai emphasised that every individual must incorporate cleanliness into their daily lives. He highlighted the need to transform the cause of maintaining cleanliness into a social movement to ensure cleaner and more beautiful cities, villages, and the state. He emphasized that public awareness is important for maintaining cleanliness across the state. During the event, he extended his best wishes and birthday greetings to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He also wished the attendees on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched “Swachh Bharat Mission” in year 2014, which marked the beginning of significant progress in sanitation. Financial aid was provided for construction of toilets in households across the country. He lauded Prime Minister Modi’s continuous efforts towards uplifting the poor and underprivileged, including the opening of bank accounts under Jan Dhan Yojana, ensuring that funds from various government schemes reach beneficiaries without leakage, allowing for their effective use.
Shri Sai expressed deep appreciation for the “Swachhta Didis”, who are playing a crucial role in cleanliness by collecting waste from households. They segregate dry and wet waste for recycling and composting. Chief Minister also mentioned his recent participation in the Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet and Expo in Gujarat, where significant work is being done towards environmental sustainability and atmospheric cleanliness.
Dr. Basavaraju S., Secretary of the Urban Administration and Development Department, provided details on the ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ campaign, announcing the launch of a special drive across all 184 urban local bodies in the state, based on the theme of ‘Swabhav Swachhta, Sanskar Swachhta’ (Cleanliness as a Habit, Cleanliness as a Value). Various activities aimed at raising public awareness on cleanliness will be undertaken during the fortnight. These activities include ensuring that sanitation workers receive the benefits of government schemes, along with organising marathons, cyclothons, and voluntary labour drives (Shramdaan).
Raipur Division Commissioner Shri Mahadev Kavre, Director of the Urban Administration and Development Department Shri Kundan Kumar, Collector Dr. Gaurav Singh, SSP Shri Santosh Singh, and Raipur Municipal Commissioner Shri Abhinash Mishra were also present on the occasion.
