Of course, Narendra Modi's macho and pro-Hindutva image is always highlighted. But there were certain government schemes and official campaigns under his government, when things were truly UNIVERSAL -- Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas agenda !!
Amitabh and Clean India
Cleanliness drive was very close to the heart of Mahatma Gandhi; therefore Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan on Oct 2, 2014. The significance of the initiative was such that it was to be regulated by all ministries of the government. Modi also had exhorted the people to devote 100 hours every year towards the cause of cleanliness and at the same time emphasised the need to build toilets.
Multiple strategies were involved in the entire campaign. A crowd-sourcing contest was held to design a logo for the mission. Public figures such as Mridula Sinha, Sachin Tendulkar, Shashi Tharoor (Congress leader), Anil Ambani and Priyanka Chopra among others were initially invited by the PM to carry the mission forward.
In retrospect, one can say in the first year between Oct 2, 2014 and Oct 2, 2015; the annual target of constructing six million toilets was achieved. Another target was set. Plans were drawn to construct 12 crore toilets in rural India by October 2019. A Swachh Bharat Kosh was also set up.
In Jan 2024, President Droupadi Murmu conferred Swachh Survekshan awards 2023 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
Thirteen awardees received felicitations under categories of Clean Cities, Cleanest Cantonment, SafaiMitra Suraksha, Ganga Towns and Best Performing State were given away.
This year the cleanest city award showcased joint winners.
Port city Surat bagged the top honours, alongside Indore, who had conquered the top spot alone for 6 consecutive years.
In the category of cities with a population of less than 1 lakh, Sasvad, Patan and Lonavala secured the top three spots. Mhow Cantonment Board in Madhya Pradesh was adjudged the Cleanest Cantonment Board. Varanasi and Prayagraj won the top two awards amongst the Cleanest Ganga Towns. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh won the top three awards for Best Performing State.
Chandigarh walked away with the award for the Best Safaimitra Surakshit Sheher. 110 awards were bestowed during the ceremony.
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| Clean Indore : A glimpse |
Flashback:
Swacch Bharat Abhiyan has salutary impact on health parameters of Indore
story filed on Feb 27, 2018 ----
The Swacch Bharat Abhiyan in the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh has helped the citizens in more ways than one. First, it has made the city clean and galvanized all sections of society in a unity of purpose to keep their homes, offices, shopping centres and bazars clean; but more importantly it has had a salutary effect on the health of the people.
According to officials of Indore Municipal Corporation, which piloted the cleanliness drive with an unprecedented zeal and professional approach in last three year, the positive impact of the Swacch Mission has resulted in decline in "respiratory and other diseases by about 50 per cent".
"We all spoke about Acchey Din (Good Days) in 2014. People still ridicule about the slogan in social network. But come to Indore and you find what's Acchey Din. The city is cleaner and healthier. Even our Sabzi Mandis offer a different view,"
says Indore Municipal Corporation 'safaimitra' Dinesh Kumar.
The observation should not be dismissed as mere rhetoric as the city has come up a long way from being placed 150th in a cleanliness ranking of India’s cities in 2014 to Number 1 in 2017. In between, the city had leaped to the 25th position in 2016.
"It's doable and we did it," Asad Warsi of Eco Pro Environmental Services, consultant to the Indore Municipal Corporation, said.
Indore Municipal Corporation officials say the "swift progress" was possible due corporation’s efforts and people's involvement to improve garbage collection, and make the city bin-free and open-defecation free (ODF).
In terms of health paradigm, studies, according to municipal corporation, show- while there were 160 cases of dengue in 2014, it came down to 129 in 2016 and dropped to 'zero' in 2017.
Launched on Jan 22, 2015, from Panipat in Haryana, the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana was a game-changer with immense long term impact.
The scheme aimed at ending the abhorrent practice of female foeticide.
Actress Madhuri Dixit was roped in. She said quite aptly: "The first lesson that a child learns is from the mother. If the mother is educated, the upbringing of the child will be better". For his part, Prime Minister Modi had said - "Today we have to move from women development to women-led development".
There were several other missions and schemes taken up on mission mode.
--- 'Digital India' was one such.
--- Skill India was another
'Digital India' aims to provide the much needed thrust to the pillars of growth areas, namely Broadband Highways, Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity, Public Internet Access Programme, e-Governance: Reforming Government through Technology, e-Kranti – Electronic Delivery of Services, Information for All.
PM applauded street vendors for being face of UPI, India's digital revolution.
Out of the total 457 projects taken up under the Namami Gange Programme at an estimated cost of Rs 38,438.05 crore till December 31, 2023; as many as 280 projects have been completed and made operational, Parliament was told.
Namami Gange, founded on five pivotal pillars including Nirmal Ganga (unpolluted river), Aviral Ganga (unrestricted flow), Jan Ganga (People’s Participation), Gyan Ganga (knowledge and research-based interventions), and Arth Ganga (fostering economic growth and community engagement), has garnered international recognition as one of the world's foremost river rejuvenation programs.
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