‘Swachchata Abhiyan’ not a government programme but people’s programme : Yogi

Asking opposition parties to join ‘Swachchata Abhiyan’, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the campaign was not a government programme but people’s programme in which all parties should participate.

“Cleanliness can not be an individual’s programme, it is the society’s programme. Unless it is adopted by the people, it cannot reach the desired level. I invite opposition parties to join the campaign as this would not only keep environment clean but also make the surroundings hygienic. It is wrong to see everything through the political prism,” Yogi said while addressing a ‘Vrahad Swachchata Abhiyan’ under which ‘Clean Village Survey’ was launched in Lucknow on Monday.

Under this campaign, the cleanest village and cleanest district of the state would be identified. The campaign will start from August 1 and continue till August 30. 

The Chief Minister said that state government, which was working under directives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adopted cleanliness campaign with a focus on villages. 

“The government has earmarked money for carrying out cleanliness campaign in rural areas but its utilization has to be ensured,” he said.

“The responsibility is on gram pradhans and other members to ensure that villages were spic and span, drainage systems were proper and there was no clogging of sewerage. If we can ensure this half of the health problems will be solved,” he said.

Yogi spoke about AES (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) which spread through contaminated water and how construction of latrines in eastern parts of the state, particularly in Gorakhpur and adjoining areas, have brought down mortality rate now. 

The aim of the campaign is to ensure participation of villagers in cleanliness drive and develop a competitive atmosphere between villages and cities. The focal point of this cleanliness campaign will be school, places of worship, PHCs, haat, bazaars and Aaangawadi centres. The feedback will be collected from the villagers and the same will be incorporated in next year’s campaign.   

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also spoke on this occasion.     

Panchayati Raj minister Bhupendra Chaudhary, Union Secretary of Cleanliness and Water, Prameshwaran Aiyyar and Chief Secretary, Dr Anup Chadra Pandey too took part in the inaugural function.