Aafrin Kidwai The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a week-long garbage-free India campaign in the run up to Independence Day, called Gandagi Mukt Bharat. This week-long campaign for swachhata in the run-up to Independence Day will have special swachhata initiatives in urban and rural India to re-enforce the jan andolan for swachhata each day.
Speaking at the launch of the Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra, an interactive experience centre on the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) at the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti at Rajghat, the PM said that the SBM, a nationwide campaign to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management, has played a key role in the fight against coronavirus disease (Covid-19). “Imagine the situation if a Covid-19-like pandemic had hit us before 2014. Due to lack of toilets, could we have checked the spread of the infection? Would lockdown been possible when 60% of the population was forced to defecate in open?” the PM said.
The PM also urged officials at the district level to construct toilets in all the villages and to repair the existing facilities during the week. He said areas, where migrant workers are residing, should get priority. “Together, we have to move forward … preparing compost out of dirt, water recycling, getting rid of single-use plastic,” he said.
Highlighting that August 8 is the anniversary of Quit India Movement, a drive launched by Mahatma Gandhi demanding an end to the British rule in India, Modi said that all should work towards ensuring that things that weaken the country quit India.
The Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra (RSK) showcases digital and outdoor installations tracking India’s transformation from having over 50 crore people defecating in the open in 2014 to becoming open defecation free in 2019. There are three sections: A 360° audiovisual immersive show in Hall 1 which provides an overview of the Swachh Bharat journey. Hall 2 contains a series of interactive LED panels, hologram boxes, interactive games and much more on the SBM. It will be open to the public from 9th August from 8 AM to 5 PM. For ticket bookings and more information on the RSK, one may log on to rsk.ddws.gov.in.
