New Delhi: “Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra is a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s efforts towards cleanliness,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he inaugurated the centre today (August 8). Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra (RSK) is an interactive experience centre on the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), situated in New Delhi. While inaugurating the centre, PM Modi said that the cleanliness drive (SBM) has been a big support in fight against coronavirus. PM Modi also said that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has brought permanent change in India and has benefited the poor.
https://twitter.com/SwachhataKendra/status/1292081048180809729?s=20
At the inauguration, PM Modi referenced the 1942 Quit India movement and said that there has been an ongoing ‘Bharat Chhodo’ mission in the country for the past six years, against the use of plastic, corruption, terrorism and for the promotion of cleanliness. He also launched one-week cleanliness campaign till August 15. He said,
All these resolutions of Quit India are in keeping with the spirit of Su-raj (good-governance) from Swaraj (self-governance). Today, all of us also have to reiterate our resolve to quit dirt. Come, start a week long campaign in the country from today till 15 August i.e. Independence Day.
PM also toured the centre and watched a short video on ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ at the Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra’s 360 degree revolving theatre.
Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi is experiencing the phenomenal journey of the @swachhbharat mission at the unique 360-degree revolving theatre in the #RashtriyaSwachhataKendra.#SwachhBharatSwasthBharat pic.twitter.com/vnJzqCzRNv
— Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra (@SwachhataKendra) August 8, 2020
After touring the Kendra, PM Modi interacted with 36 school students dressed in traditional attire, representing the 36 states and union territories, at the amphitheatre.
https://twitter.com/SwachhataKendra/status/1292087254249160710?s=20
The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that the children were following social distancing norms and wearing masks at the event, and advised them to continue doing so to curb the spread of COVID-19. He told the children,
We all are a part of a campaign now, ‘Gandagi, Bharat Chhodo’. I am glad that all of us, including the children present here, are following social distancing norms and wearing masks, to control the spread of COVID-19.
He also said that children are contributing to the fight against coronavirus due to their role in the cleanliness drive.
The Kendra was first announced by the prime minister on April 10, 2017, as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of Gandhiji’s Champaran ‘satyagraha’. PM Modi at the event, said that the whole world was now coming forward to adopt his values.
The whole world is coming forward to adopt the values and principals of Mahatma Gandhi. When Gandhi ji’s 150th birth anniversary was celebrated last year, that was unprecedented. Singers of different countries learnt and sung his favourite song ‘Vaishnav Jan To’, he said.
As per a statement by the Press Information bureau, the installations at the Kendra will introduce the future generations to the successful journey of the world’s largest behaviour change campaign, the Swachh Bharat (clean India) Mission. A balanced mix of digital and outdoor installations in the Kendra will impart information, awareness and education on swachhata (cleanliness) and related aspects, it said.
The complex interplay of processes and activities will be presented through assimilative learning, best practices, global benchmarks, success stories and thematic messages in an interactive format.
The Swachh Bharat Mission has transformed rural sanitation in India and has changed the behaviour of over 55 crore people from open defecation to using a toilet. India has received high praise from the international community for this and we have set a precedent for the rest of the world to follow, the statement reads.
The mission is now in its second phase, aiming to take India’s villages from Open Defecation Free (ODF) to ODF Plus, with a strong focus on sustaining ODF status and ensuring solid and liquid waste management for all, it pointed out.
NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current 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 highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. 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 become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.