Chandigarh, September 13: Following the National curtain raiser organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), city Mayor Sh. Kuldeep Kumar presided over the curtain-raising event in the MCC office attended by Joint Commissioner Sh. Gurinder Singh Sodhi and other senior officers of the MC Chandigarh.
This year, the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2024 campaign, themed "Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskaar Swachhata," will run from September 17 to October 2, 2024. This marks the 10th anniversary of the campaign, which has been observed annually since its inception in 2014 to commemorate the 155th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The campaign focuses on three key pillars:
1. Swachhata Ki Bhagidaari (Public Participation, Awareness, and Advocacy)
2. Sampoorna Swachhata (Comprehensive Cleanliness Initiatives)
3. Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivirs (Preventive Health Checkups and Social Security Coverage)
During the curtain-raising event, Mayor Sh. Kuldeep Kumar stated, “A series of Jan Andolans (people's movements) along with major events and activities have been planned in alignment with these pillars. We are collaborating with stakeholders including Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs), Market Welfare Associations (MWAs), NGOs, schools, and Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The focus will be on schools, residential associations, market vendors, the welfare of Safaimitras, and SHGs, ensuring all stakeholders actively contribute to maintaining cleanliness in their surroundings.”
The Mayor also emphasized the importance of achieving the objectives of the "Cleanliness Target Units" (CTUs) through active citizen participation.
Additionally, the campaign will feature large-scale cleanliness drives, innovative initiatives, and community engagement activities, promoting the message of "Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskaar Swachhata"—instilling cleanliness as a habit and a core value while embracing the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (RRR).
The Mayor expressed confidence that Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 will significantly enhance the ongoing mission to promote cleanliness and hygiene across India.