Resolve To Make India Free From Single-Use Plastic: PM Narendra Modi On Mann Ki Baat

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to resolve to make the country free from single-use plastic and appreciated the efforts by some people for undertaking cleanliness drive. “We have to think how garbage gets on beaches and mountains in the first place; after all, it is one amongst us who leaves this garbage there, we should take a resolve that we will not leave garbage at all,” the Prime Minister said.

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We should take a vow that we will not litter, this is the first resolve of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. I want to remind you of one more thing which couldn’t be discussed that much because of Corona. We have to make our country free from single-use plastic; this should also be one of the resolutions for 2021, he added.

Addressing the nation through 72nd edition of his monthly radio programme and the last ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of the year 2020 on Sunday (December 27), PM Modi mentioned about Pradeep Sangwan from Gurugram who is running a campaign “Healing Himalayas” since 2016.

He along with his team and volunteers go to different areas of Himalayas and clear the plastic garbage left behind by tourists. He has cleared tonnes of plastic, he said.

He also highlighted a similar effort by a couple from Karnataka.

A couple from Karnataka- Anudeep and Miusha got married last month in November. After marriage, many couples go on a trip but decided to clear the garbage on Someshwar Beach of Karnataka. Several others also joined him. They collected over 800-kilogram garbage from there, he added.

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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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.