New Delhi: On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and Swachh Bharat Mission Day, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) organised a special cleanliness and sanitation drive at the Malcha Market complex under the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) Campaign. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai, participated in the cleanliness drive and actively joined the sanitation activities.
Special Secretary (Internal Security), Govt. of India – Shri Anand Swaroop, NDMC Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, senior officers of the Council, representatives of the Malcha Market Association and other stakeholders also participated enthusiastically in the programme, reaffirming their collective commitment towards cleanliness and civic responsibility.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Nityanand Rai said that the day holds special significance as it marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, whose life and philosophy placed cleanliness, discipline and public responsibility at the heart of nation-building. He recalled that on the same day in 2014, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission, which has since evolved into a nationwide people’s movement.
The Minister said that the Swachh Bharat Mission has brought about a visible transformation in the country’s approach towards cleanliness and public hygiene. He emphasised that the campaign should not be confined to individual homes or personal surroundings, but should inspire citizens to take collective responsibility for maintaining cleanliness in their neighbourhoods, markets, public spaces and the wider community.
Shri Rai stressed that Swachhata Hi Seva is not merely a cleanliness campaign but also a movement for behavioural and attitudinal change. He called upon citizens to become active partners in this national endeavour and urged every individual to motivate at least ten more people to participate in cleanliness-related activities. He underlined that Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation) is essential for achieving sustainable and long-term improvements in cleanliness.
Highlighting the importance of environmental sustainability, Shri Rai also emphasised the role of tree plantation as an integral component of the cleanliness and environmental protection efforts. He said that trees contribute not only to ecological conservation but also to creating cleaner and healthier surroundings. As part of the programme, the Minister planted a sapling within the premises of Malcha Market.
The Minister also appreciated the dedication and contribution of sanitation workers, describing them as frontline personnel in the country’s cleanliness mission. He said that while sanitation workers perform their responsibilities every day, the larger responsibility of maintaining cleanliness rests equally with every citizen. He called for greater respect, cooperation and participation from the public towards sanitation personnel.
On the occasion, Shri Nityanand Rai felicitated sanitation workers and Palika Sahayaks for their exemplary contribution and dedicated services rendered during the BRICS Summit, and presented them with gifts in appreciation of their outstanding work.
During the programme, Shri Nityanand Rai and Shri Anand Swaroop also administered the Swachhata pledge to the citizens, calling upon everyone to make cleanliness an integral part of their daily lives and to actively contribute towards keeping their surroundings clean. The pledge reinforced the spirit of collective responsibility and citizen participation in the Swachhata movement.
The programme reaffirmed NDMC’s continued commitment to strengthening cleanliness, public participation, environmental sustainability and civic responsibility, in keeping with the vision of a cleaner, greener and healthier New Delhi.
