New Delhi: Champaran in Bihar is again in focus. The place became an indelible part of history when for the first time non-violent civil disobedience or Satyagraha was used to fight the British in 1917. It became one of the major revolts of India’s freedom movement. Hundred years on, as India celebrates the centenary of that landmark revolt, Champaran has again assumed importance in a fight of a different kind. 20,000 Swachhagrahis have joined the present day Champaran Satyagraha to asking more and more people to join the movement to fight open defecation and push the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Bihar.
The Chalo Champaran is a week-long campaign (from April 3 to April 10) to spread awareness and give a boost to toilet construction in the state that has so far lagged behind and is performing poorly in terms of sanitation coverage at 45%. The campaign which launched on April 3 has got a thumbs up from swachh ambassadors – Amitabh Bachchan, who is the Campaign Ambassador for Banega Swachh India, Akshay Kumar, Madhuri Dixit and Anushka Sharma. Saluting the spirit of 20,000 Swachhagrahis and asking more and more people to join the movement, actors through short videos have sent their messages. Actor Amitabh Bachchan said,
100 years ago, the father of our nation started a Satyagraha from Champaran. On this April 10, taking inspiration from him, we all should start a Swachh Satyagraha and take the oath that we will give Swachh Satyagraha, a clean nation by October 2, 2019. Everyone should do their bit to end open defecation in India and make the country waste or garbage free.
चम्पारण सत्याग्रह के सौ साल बाद, चम्पारण स्वच्छाग्रह! इस मुहीम से जुड़ने के लिए, अमिताभ बच्चन जी का आपको संदेश! https://t.co/EPyNHolbfy @srbachchan #चलो_चम्पारण #ChaloChamparan@PMOIndia @narendramodi
— Swachh Bharat I #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav (@swachhbharat) April 2, 2018
Akshay Kumar added,
I urge everyone to come and fulfill Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a Swachh Bharat. Let’s make this jan andolan successful!
10 अप्रैल को चम्पारण की पावन धरती से, हम एक स्वच्छ भारत का संकल्प लेंगे. सत्याग्रह से स्वच्छाग्रह की इस मुहीम से जुड़िये, देखिये @akshaykumar जी का आपको संदेश. https://t.co/FB9i4XdOLQ #चलो_चम्पारण #ChaloChamparan@PMOIndia @narendramodi
— Swachh Bharat I #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav (@swachhbharat) April 2, 2018
Thanking all the sanitation motivators for their swachh work, Madhuri Dixit said,
Swachh motivators from across the country have gone door-to-door to educate and motivate people to start a swachh revolution in India. Now, taking the revolution further, I urge each one of you to come together and start Swachh Satyagraha from April 10, just like how our father of nation did a Satyagraha from champaran 100 years ago. We all have to take the oath to make India completely clean by October 2, 2019. Do your bit now!
देश में स्वच्छता की क्रांति आप सब स्वच्छाग्रहियों के दृढ़ निश्चय का ही परिणाम है। देखिये, @MadhuriDixit जी का आप स्वच्छाग्रहियों को संदेश https://t.co/AiJEDtF4dQ #चलो_चम्पारण #ChaloChamparan@PMOIndia @narendramodi
— Swachh Bharat I #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav (@swachhbharat) April 2, 2018
In her message, Anushka Sharma reached out to the women to join the movement, she said,
When women speak together for a cause, the world hears. And, that’s why it’s not just about Swachh Bharat Abhiyan being a well-known concept, but stories of many women across India and their inspiring swachh stories. I urge more and more women swachh motivators to come forward and take steps for a clean India.
जब मिलकर बोलेगी नारी, तो सुनेगी दुनिया सारी! सुनिए, @AnushkaSharma जी का देशभर के स्वच्छाग्रहियों को संदेश! https://t.co/78QeKE0LaO #चलो_चम्पारण #ChaloChamparan@PMOIndia @narendramodi
— Swachh Bharat I #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav (@swachhbharat) April 2, 2018
More than 10,000 swachhagrahis from different parts of the country have been invited to Bihar for a week, to join and work with another 10,000 swachhagrahis from the state. The motive of the campaign is to trigger behaviour change throughout the 38 districts of Bihar and make the state open defecation free on a priority. From constructing toilets to clean-up drives and going door-to-door to educate people on why they should give swachhta a priority, these swachhagrahis for a week will do it all.
On April 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also join the Champaran Satyagraha for the closing ceremony.
Also Read: Chalo Champaran: 20,000 Swachhagrahis In Bihar Will Educate People To Construct Toilets At Home
