Staff Reporter
Srinagar, SEPTEMBER 29 – Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, is leaving no stone unturned as the grand finale of the year-long Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav approaches. In a high-level meeting attended by key officials, including Divisional Commissioner Kashmir/Jammu and Deputy Commissioners, Dr. Mehta outlined ambitious plans for the event.
One of the highlights is the ‘Swachhta hi Sewa’ Mission, where a staggering 80,000 events are set to be organized across villages and Municipal wards. The Chief Secretary emphasized the importance of collecting soil (Mitti) for the Amrit Kalashs, symbolizing the collective heritage and culture of J&K. The collected soil will be used for constructing ‘Amrit Vatikas’ in Srinagar and Jammu, a project aimed at celebrating the region’s rich traditions.
In a bid to promote unity and cultural representation, Dr. Mehta called for a uniform attire for the youth volunteers representing J&K in New Delhi. These young representatives will carry the Amrit Kalashs, and the Chief Secretary stressed the need for warm send-offs from their villages.
The Swachhta hi Sewa campaign is set to be a massive undertaking, with Dr. Mehta urging all administrative secretaries to host events within their departments. With a plethora of institutions and infrastructure in the UT, he suggested that even two events per institution would quickly add up to the impressive goal of 80,000 events.
To ensure the success of the campaign, District level control rooms will be established in collaboration with the IT Department to facilitate the swift uploading of feedback on the national portal.
The preparations also extend to Gandhi Jayanti celebrations, with a strong focus on cleanliness. Dr. Mehta encouraged officers to enhance the appearance of towns through low-cost measures such as painting walls, cleaning water bodies, and restoring water channels. He emphasized the significance of taking ‘Nasha Mukt’ and ‘Non-Violence’ pledges across the UT, symbolizing the victory of virtues over vices.
Lastly, ‘Sankalap Saptah’ is on the horizon, with all 44 Aspirational Blocks of the UT gearing up for a week of dedicated development themes. From ‘Sampoorna Swasthya’ to ‘Samridhi Diwas,’ these themes will guide the collective efforts of aspirational blocks towards progress. The week-long celebration will culminate in ‘Sankalp Saptaah – Samavesh Samaroh’ on October 9, 2023, celebrating the collective achievements of the entire week.
