Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, and Earth Sciences, today highlighted the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Swachhata” initiative, calling it a unique success story in the history of independent India. Speaking at the launch of Special Campaign 4.0 under the Government of India’s Swachhata Hi Sewa programme on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Dr. Singh emphasized the Government’s unwavering commitment to cleanliness, public hygiene, and service.
Leading two significant events in the national capital—one at Nehru Park, organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), and another at Prithvi Bhawan, hosted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences—Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the Government’s efforts to institutionalize cleanliness and reduce administrative pendency.
He lauded the success of the previous Swachhata campaigns, stating that the earlier three campaigns led to significant achievements, including the generation of Rs. 1162.49 crore through the disposal of e-waste and scrap, clearing 355.6 lakh sq. ft. of office space for productive use, closing or weeding out 96.1 lakh files, and cleaning 4.05 lakh cleanliness sites across the country.
Special Campaign 4.0, launched today, aims to build on this success by focusing on public-centric ministries like Defence and Home, along with their Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). This campaign will be monitored digitally, running from October 2 to October 31, 2024, with the results evaluated in November. It will also focus on areas such as MP references, Parliamentary assurances, PMO references, and public grievances, reflecting a broader and more systematic approach.
Dr. Jitendra Singh thanked Prime Minister Modi for addressing the core issue of cleanliness through the Swachhata campaign. He remarked that PM Modi’s vision had transformed a government-led initiative into a behavioural revolution, one that has permeated the daily lives of people across India. “The Swachhata campaign has become ingrained in the psyche of the people,” he said, adding that cleanliness has become a core value embraced by citizens, not just a Government directive.
He highlighted the role of Special Campaign 4.0 in institutionalizing these behavioural changes in Government offices, particularly focusing on reducing administrative pendency and optimizing public service. The Minister also took the opportunity to honor the nation’s Safai Mitras—the sanitation workers—by distributing safety kits and sweets, acknowledging their vital contribution to the campaign’s success. “Our Safai Mitras are at the heart of this campaign. Their dedication is an example of true public service,” he said.
In addition to these honors, Dr. Singh participated in Shramdaan (voluntary labor) activities at Nehru Park and Prithvi Bhawan, where he was joined by officials from DARPG and the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The participation of senior officials in hands-on cleanliness activities reinforced the campaign’s message of civic responsibility and the importance of collective action to maintain clean public spaces.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also took the opportunity to reflect on the Swachhata Campaign’s early successes, particularly its empowerment of women through the construction of over 4 lakh toilets. He noted that the movement has since evolved to address issues like wealth generation from waste. “This campaign is about turning waste into wealth and making cleanliness a permanent feature of public life,” he remarked in his closing statement.
Senior officials, including V. Srinivas, Secretary, DARPG, and Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, were actively involved in both events, along with other senior officers and staff from the participating ministries.
