NEW DELHI: Stressing that the “intensity and visibility of Swachh Bharat activities to be increased significantly,” Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha has asked all ministries to implement a fortnight-long action plan every year to highlight their contribution to the initiative. Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on October 2, 2014, to achieve total sanitation and cleanliness by the same date in 2019.
In the past, each ministry carried out various activities relating to the mission such as weeding out of files and cleaning of office premises and establishments under them. But the government feels that these measures are not enough.
“It is therefore desired that each ministry draws out and implements at least a fortnight-long action plan every year to bring into focus the contribution of the ministry towards Swachh Bharat Mission and also to carry out substantive work related to Swachhta (cleanliness),” Sinha said.
The action plan can be based on the ministry’s areas of responsibility and may include innovative practices, media campaigns, workshops, award functions etc, he said.
A draft calendar assigning theme-wise fortnights or ‘Pakhwadas’ for all ministries has been chalked out. “During these campaigns, focus should be on reaching out to the community or citizen. An intensive buzz would need to be created around the activities undertaken by the ministry or department by effective use of mass media as well as social media,” reads the letter by the Cabinet Secretary to all ministries.