IN PHOTOS: CM Shinde launches 'Maha Swachhata Abhiyan' at Gateway of India

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde inaugurated the 'Maha Swachhata Abhiyan' at Mumbai's iconic Gateway of India, initiating a cleanliness drive in the state. Pics/ CMO

Updated On: 2023-12-31 03:57 PM IST

Compiled by : Sanjana Deshpande

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde inaugurated 'Maha Swachhata Abhiyan' at Mumbai's iconic Gateway of India, initiating a cleanliness drive in the state

Notable figures including Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, along with key ministers and BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, were present at the launch and will actively participate in this campaign.

CM Shinde paid respects at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue and offered floral tributes at Swami Vivekananda's statue as part of the inauguration ceremony.

This national campaign aims to tidy up streets, roads, and public infrastructure across urban, rural, and town areas.

The mission targets eradicating open defecation by constructing household and community toilets, coupled with implementing a monitoring system to ensure their usage.

Initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014, the Swachh Bharat Mission engages three million government employees and students in cleanliness campaigns across 4,041 cities, towns, and rural areas.

PM Modi coined the campaign as 'Satyagraha se Swachhagraha,' drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's Champaran Satyagraha, launched on April 10, 1917.

The Swachh Bharat Mission encompasses two facets: 'gramin' (rural) under the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and 'urban' under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

In February 2020, the Centre sanctioned Phase-II of SBM-G with a budget of Rs. 1,40,881 crores, emphasizing the sustainability of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and integrating Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) to upgrade villages to ODF Plus by 2024-25.

This project demonstrates the nation's concerted efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage, as well as major investment in improving cleanliness and waste management infrastructure.

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