New Delhi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said even after 72 years of Independence no sanitation campaign could garner much progress that Swachh Bharat Campaign has achieved.
Ms Sitharaman said, “Even after 72 years of independence and despite many awareness programmes about the environmental sanitation and personal cleanliness which were launched earlier by the Government of India, not much progress in the field of sanitation and cleanliness could be achieved. Therefore, in order to fulfil dream of Mahatma Gandhi to make India clean, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was introduced.”
She was speaking while participating in the ‘Swachhta Hi Sewa’ campaign in Delhi Cantonment area here.She said Swachh Bharat Mission is the biggest public campaign launched by the Government on October 2, 2014 wherein members of public government employees and students have voluntarily taken part since its inception.
The Minister recalled: “Gandhi Ji had said that “Sanitation is more important than independence”. This Government believes in the vision of Bapu.”
She congratulated Director General Defence Estates who played a vital role to make cantonments of India clean mentioning for sincere efforts of DGDE out of 62 Cantonments, 61 Cantonments spread all over the country have been certified as Open Defecation Free (ODF) cantonments.
She also complimented the Cantonment Board Delhi for the colossal efforts undertaken by it in the field of Swachhta.It was ranked first in Swachhta Survekshan-2018 among 62 cantonments of the country.
Ms Sitharaman also inaugurated a free ‘Health Camp’ organised by Delhi Cantt Board at Cantonment General Hospital.
‘Swachhta Hi Sewa’ — a year-long campaign — has started in 2018 as part of Swachh Bharat, to commemorate 150th birth anniversary of Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi and to encourage more and more people to participate in the movement.
The 62 Cantonment Boards under the Defence Ministry have actively participated in ‘Swachhta Hi Sewa’ campaign from September 15, to October 2, 2018.
Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff and Mrs Reena Lanba, President Naval Wives Welfare Association visited the Naraina Bagh residential area to join the residents in tree plantation and conduct of poster essay competition.
