PM Modi makes a sweeping statement
3 Oct 2014 6:05 AM IST
On Thursday morning, coinciding with the 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, prime minister Narendra Modi launched Swachh Bharat Mission from the Valmiki Basti on Mandir Marg to make India clean by 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation. Before launching the mission, Modi visited Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi and also Vijay Ghat, the memorial to second prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who shared his birthday with Mahatma.
Before starting the drive, he offered prayers at Valmiki Mandir and later visited the place where Mahatma Gandhi once stayed. The prime minister also made a surprise visit at Mandir Marg Police Station where he cleaned some section of its premises.
From Mandir Marg, Modi drove to Rajpath on Raisina Hills and administered pledge to the huge gathering present there to clean India. The prime minister said the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was beyond politics. That was inspired by patriotism and not politics. He asked the citizens to change their mindset as cleaning is not only the responsibility of safai karamcharis.
Modi called for starting a campaign on social media as well. He said constructing more toilets is extremely important as he himself is pained seeing women defecate in the open. Later, he flagged off a walkathon as part of the campaign.
Expressing confidence that the nation can achieve the target of becoming one of cleanest in the world, Modi dwelt upon the low cost success of the Mars Orbiter Mission. While ruing that 60 per cent of the populace in rural areas still defecate in open, he said the stigma of women lacking toilet facilities has to be removed. Modi requested the corporates to build clean toilets specially for girl students in schools under corporate social responsibility. Several union ministers and heads of departments also administered cleanliness pledges to staff members in their office premises.
Before starting the drive, he offered prayers at Valmiki Mandir and later visited the place where Mahatma Gandhi once stayed. The prime minister also made a surprise visit at Mandir Marg Police Station where he cleaned some section of its premises.
From Mandir Marg, Modi drove to Rajpath on Raisina Hills and administered pledge to the huge gathering present there to clean India. The prime minister said the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was beyond politics. That was inspired by patriotism and not politics. He asked the citizens to change their mindset as cleaning is not only the responsibility of safai karamcharis.
Modi called for starting a campaign on social media as well. He said constructing more toilets is extremely important as he himself is pained seeing women defecate in the open. Later, he flagged off a walkathon as part of the campaign.
Expressing confidence that the nation can achieve the target of becoming one of cleanest in the world, Modi dwelt upon the low cost success of the Mars Orbiter Mission. While ruing that 60 per cent of the populace in rural areas still defecate in open, he said the stigma of women lacking toilet facilities has to be removed. Modi requested the corporates to build clean toilets specially for girl students in schools under corporate social responsibility. Several union ministers and heads of departments also administered cleanliness pledges to staff members in their office premises.
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