NEW DELHI: In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for a nationwide cleanliness drive, people from all walks of life—from politicians to students—participated in an hour-long “shramdaan” on Sunday. More than 9.20 lakh sites nationwide have been adopted for the massive effort, claims the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry. In a recent episode of “Mann Ki Baat,” Modi urged all residents to participate in “one hour of shramdaan for swachhata” on October 1 in order to honour Mahatma Gandhi on the night of his birthday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah took part in a cleaning campaign in Ahmedabad while carrying a broom. JP Nadda, the head of the BJP, took part in the drive in the Jhandewalan district of Delhi.RK Singh, the Union Power Minister, said to media while participating in the “shramdaan” (volunteer work), “We (the Centre) have taken a commitment to make the country clean. Although it will be difficult, we can do it. All around the nation, BJP leaders and union ministers grabbed brooms to participate in the “Swachhata hi Seva” campaign. Bhupendra Patel, the chief minister of Gujarat, took part in a cleanup effort in Ahmedabad. Swachhata (cleanliness), according to BJP MP Dinesh Sharma, who also took part in a clean-up effort, has come to represent the nation. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, head of the Indian Air Force, volunteered for a cleanup project in New Delhi. According to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, 500 places throughout the capital city participated in cleanliness campaigns.Hardeep Singh Puri, the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, urged people to participate in the campaign by writing on X, “Come, let’s make new history! Let’s volunteer at 10 am today to clean up for an hour as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. “To join, search for or go to your local cleanliness programmes. Together, let’s achieve the dream of a garbage-free India, he urged. Cricket players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also made a call for unity for “Ek Tareekh, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath” and invited people to join the greatest citizen-led initiative to bolster the commitment to cleanliness. Meenakashi Lekhi, a member of the BJP, said, “We hope that people stay connected with the Swachh Bharat Mission that was launched by PM Modi.”In Lucknow, ‘Swachhata Pakhwada’ activities are being held across the nation, according to Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Brajesh Pathak, who participated in one. He urged everybody to take part in the drive. According to the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, volunteers participated in the “shramdaan” in more than 22,000 market areas, 10,000 water bodies, 7,000 bus stands/toll plazas, 1,000 gaushalas, 300 zoos and wildlife areas, and various other places in rural and urban India. They included NGOs, market associations, self-help groups, faith groups, trade bodies, and private sector companies.While Maharashtra will undertake the programme in around 62,000 areas, including beaches, religious sites, schools, universities, and water bodies, Uttar Pradesh has adopted more than a lakh venues for cleanliness activities. Throughout the drive in Telangana, old temples were cleaned.
