Trilok Singh
India’s decisive war against cleanliness and hygiene has got a filliped the way through ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’, which draws kind attention to making ‘Clean India’ and shared public-private-societal responsibility to served swachhta, society at large. Notably, Embedded in the doctrine of this top-up initiative to the already ongoing ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ (SBM) is a clear invocation for the public to shun the entrenched notion that cleanliness is but the task of the ‘others’ who have historically been performing it on behalf of the rest of ‘us’.
Now ‘Swachhata’ as a doctrine has become a mass movement (to boost nation wide public-private-society participation). “Swachhata Hi Seva Movement” considered as a ‘Strong Pillar’ of the “Swachh Bharat Mission” (SBM) initiated by the Union Government of India in 2014, and catalyse the fulfilled Bapu’s dream of a Clean India.. In order to above, The PM, Narendra Modi, on September 15, 2018, launched the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’, to boost nation wide public participation in the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and said that, ‘Swachh Bharat is not a movement of any Government or any Prime Minister, but an entire nation’s movement’.
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Moreover, the PM argued some key achievement, including how 450 districts in India have become Open Defecation Free within this four years. Similarly, twenty States and Union Territories have declared themselves ODF in this period. The PM, Nearly 9 crore toilets constructed in the last 4 years, around 4.5 lakh villages, 450 districts and 20 states and union territories have been declared ODF. Thus, He emphasized that providing facilities such as toilets or dustbins is not enough, and added that cleanliness or Swachhta is a habit that can be inculcated. Further he mentioned that, people from across the country are now participating in the development of this habit.
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Meanwhile, Four years ago, you (Modi) introduced the SBM & I also became a part of it as Indian citizen. I’ve been associated with various cleanliness campaigns including a campaign to clean a beach here: Amitabh Bachchan to PM Modi at the launch of ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’. From the Gateway of India in Mumbai, bollywood super star Amitabh Bachchan explained the various cleanliness activities he has been involved in, including cleaning of a beach in Mumbai. Women Swachhagrahis from Dantewada in Chhattisgarh and Salem in Tamil Nadu explained to the PM, their efforts towards Swachhata.
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The Prime Minister noted that Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan has led to a decrease in cases of diseases such as diarrhoea.
While Business tycoon Ratan Tata mentioned that the strength of a country’s foundations is determined by the health of its citizens. “To be a strong India, the foundation has to be strong and that foundation is the health of our people”. Ratan Tata also reaffirmed the commitment of The Tata Trust in ensuring the success of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). It is a great honour and privilege to help launch a movement which should be the dream of every citizen of India. The PM expressed his belief that the private sector has a big role to play in the creation of a Clean India.
Swachhata Hi Seva movement, Aims at generating greater public participation towards Swachhta throughout the nation. Thus, It is being organized in the run up to the 4th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), on October 2nd, 2018, which will also mark the commencement of the 150th year celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. The Prime Minister urged everyone to be a part of this movement and strengthen the efforts to create a ‘Swachh Bharat’. The PM also appreciated the role of the Swachhagrahis, and mentioned their role would always be remembered in history. Our confidence and resolve towards cleanliness is sky-high. He gave a clarion call to the people to work for Swachhata Hi Seva. Swachhata must become our Swabhaav, “Youngsters are ambassadors of social change”. The way they have furthered the message of cleanliness is commendable.
Despite all of this, Gandhi’s Ashrams were lived-in examples of what service meant in the quest for cleanliness. More than an act in symbolism, cleanliness was perceived as a noble service in which all the Ashramites used to engage on a daily basis. Moreover, it is evident that for the Father of the Nation the service for swacchta was a social tool that he used to cut across class and caste barriers that hindered cleanliness. It has continued to remain relevant till this day. For him ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body’ was not a physical manifestation but a deep-rooted philosophical message. Could an individual harbor non-violent thought if his actions were violent towards nature and fellow beings? That cleanliness was viewed as an integral part of his political campaign for freedom, there is little doubt that lack of cleanliness was clearly equated to an act of violence. It indeed is as lack of hygiene continues to cause death to millions of children in the country.
