ITANAGAR, Sept 27 � Ahead of the scheduled launch of Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan � a major initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clean India � in Arunachal Pradesh on October 2, Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma has appealed to the people of the State, especially students, employees, NGOs, community-based organisations and civil society for their whole-hearted participation in the Clean India Campaign.
The Governor, who was interacting with Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and his cabinet colleagues and the Leader of Opposition Tamiyo Taga at Raj Bhawan here last evening, said that it is the vision of Prime Minister Modi to have a five-year programme to make our country clean. Its goal is to achieve Swachchh Bharat (Clean India) by October 2, 2019 which will be a fitting tribute to the �Father of the Nation� Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary.
Citing the adage �Charity begins at home�, the Governor said that each one of us should start the cleanliness and sanitation drive from own home, then go on to the locality, city and beyond. Participation by all of us young, not so young and old and from various sections of society, NGOs, govt bodies and particularly the youth is vital for this mission to succeed, he averred.
The Governor exhorted the State Cabinet to strengthen existing programmes and take up new ones to make the city, towns and rural areas of the State totally sanitized, healthy and livable. He also suggested for organizing Swachchh Bharat marathon, walkathons, painting competitions, �awareness marches� at various levels to create awareness in public at large about the cleanliness.
He further called for administrating public pledge on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in public gatherings, school and college assemblies not to litter on road or spit in public places and to deposit waste products at designated waste collection points.
Highlighting on creating awareness on healthy usage of toilets to eliminate open defecation, he stressed on repair, maintenance, cleaning of public toilets. He also emphasized on construction of toilets in schools and Angawadi centers.
