Ministry Of External Affairs Observes Cleanliness Awareness Drive In Over 425 Locations

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs observed an awareness campaign on cleanliness by undertaking a ‘Swachhta Pakhwada’ from January 16-31 at over 425 locations, including Regional Passport Offices (RPOs), Protectors of Emigrants (PoEs), Indian Missions and Posts abroad, Branch Secretariats and subordinate offices in India, the foreign office informed through an official statement. The drive was organised as per the schedule for Central Government Ministries and Departments, with special emphasis laid on improving current cleanliness levels in the office premises, disposal of scrap and waste materials and the utilisation of social media to amplify the cleanliness message.

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Swachhata banners were displayed at all prominent places of the Ministry building and all its offices and subordinate offices in India and Indian missions and posts abroad.

A ‘Shramdaan’ was undertaken by officials to keep their offices and surroundings clean.

Special drives to clean toilets, bathrooms, staircases and corridors, as well as the segregation and safe disposal of paper waste, plastic waste and e-waste banners were also undertaken as part of the cleanliness drive.

A review of the access to toilets by ‘Divyang’ (disabled persons) at South Block, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan was also carried out, the ministry stated.

Indian Missions abroad and RPOs/ PoEs in lndia actively participated in carrying out cleanliness activities during Swachhata Pakhwada, the MEA release stated, adding that the Indian Missions also engaged local Indian diaspora to participate in Swachhata activities.

Swachhata activities undertaken by MEA officials in India and those situated abroad included blood donation camps, Nukkad Nataks, Plogging/Swachhata walks, Signature campaigns, painting competitions, planting of saplings and Kavya Pratiyogita (poetry recitation).

The ministry, in its statement, added that the Swachhata Pakhwada was celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm and the activities undertaken were comprehensive in size and scale and saw widespread participation in India and abroad.

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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.