As several ministers took to the broom on the first day of the Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan, the government declared that its offices in the Capital will remain open on October 2 — a national holiday — for employees to take a cleanliness pledge.
Tourism minister Sripad Yesso Naik participated in a cleanliness drive at Red Fort saying that one should devote at least two hours a day for cleanliness. HRD minister Smriti Irani went a step ahead and took the broom and grovel to launch the campaign from a Kendriya Vidayalaya in south Delhi while stating that “cleanliness was as important as curriculum”.
Before kicking off his US trip, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged people to devote at least 100 hours every year towards cleanliness. “I urge every one of you to devote at least 100 hours every year, that is two hours every week towards cleanliness. We can`t let India remain unclean any longer. On October 2, I will too set out with a broom and contribute towards this pious task,” he said.
On Friday, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad would take the broom to clean the ground floor of Shastri Bhawan and on October 2 — Gandhi Jayanti — he would participate in the cleanliness drive at Patna railway station as part of “shram daan” (physical work).
{{/usCountry}}On Friday, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad would take the broom to clean the ground floor of Shastri Bhawan and on October 2 — Gandhi Jayanti — he would participate in the cleanliness drive at Patna railway station as part of “shram daan” (physical work).
{{/usCountry}}This is part of the PM’s call to Cabinet ministers and MPs to participate in the Clean India campaign. Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth had on Wednesday issued instructions to all secretaries to ask employees to come to office on Oct 2 to take “Swachchata Shapath” (cleanliness pledge).