Sheikh Sameer
New Delhi, October 3: On October 1st at 10 am, history was made in the Swachh Bharat Mission as millions of citizens participated in a massive cleanliness drive across the nation. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, along with fitness influencer Ankit Baiyanpuriya, led the shramdaan. Nearly 8.75 crore people joined this unprecedented effort at over 9 lakh sites nationwide.
This mega cleanliness drive, led by citizens, transcended boundaries and united people from all states, UTs, villages, and cities. It covered streets, highways, railway tracks & stations, health institutions, heritage sites, residential areas, water bodies, places of worship, and more.
Many Governors, Chief Ministers, political leaders, civil society organizations, and the public participated, demonstrating that sanitation unifies the nation. Jawans, NCC, NSS & NYK volunteers, SHGs, NGOs, RWAs, market associations, industry bodies, faith leaders, celebrities, influencers, and many others joined the initiative.
Various organizations, under Central Government ministries, carried out unique activities, and Union ministers joined shramdaan at different sites. The “whole of government approach” facilitated smooth volunteer coordination at lakhs of sites simultaneously.
This extraordinary event showcased people’s dedication in cleaning their chosen sites, with an emphasis on zero waste and plastic-free principles. The Swachh Bharat Mission leveraged technology, enabling people to register and select their shramdaan sites. Garbage-prone areas were identified and shared on a portal for public selection.
The collective action of 8.75 crore people has significantly improved cleanliness in all sites. As the Swachh Bharat Mission-2.0 continues, such collective efforts will strengthen the journey towards a Garbage-Free nation by 2026, emphasizing scientific waste management and remediation of legacy dumpsites.
