“Swachhta Abhiyan has turned into a National Movement”: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai
Union Minister of Jal Shakti CR Patil praised the Chhattisgarh’s efforts under the Swachhta Abhiyan
Chief Minister Sai and Union Minister of Jal Shakti Patil dedicated 35 projects worth Rs. 32.07 crore to the people of Rajnandgaon district
Chief Minister called upon the people to take a pledge to make Chhattisgarh beautiful and clean
Chief Minister Sai and Union Minister of Jal Shakti Patil praised the Rajnandgaon district administration for their effort under the Swachhta Abhiyan
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil participated in the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ program in Barga village of Rajnandgaon on September 28. The event was graced by Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, and MP Santosh Pandey. During the program, they inaugurated 35 development projects worth Rs. 32.07 crore for the people of Rajnandgaon district and distributed departmental kits to various beneficiaries.
In his speech, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated that the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ fortnight is being observed nationwide from September 17, coinciding with Lord Vishwakarma Jayanti and the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and culminating on October 2, Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
He reminded the audience that Prime Minister Modi had first called for a nationwide cleanliness pledge from the Red Fort on August 15, 2014, which has since grown into a national movement. The Chief Minister praised Rajnandgaon district for its exceptional work in promoting cleanliness, with the campaign evolving into a community-driven initiative.
The Chief Minister underscored the importance of integrating cleanliness into daily routines, citing the inspiring story of 106-year-old Kunwar Bai from Kotabharri village in Dhamtari district, who sold her goats to build a toilet. Her actions became a symbol of the state’s commitment to cleanliness.
He also acknowledged the efforts of Barga village’s sarpanch in improving groundwater levels and water conservation. Sai emphasised the state’s accelerating development efforts, aligning with Prime Minister Modi’s vision, and urged citizens to pledge their commitment to making Chhattisgarh clean and beautiful.
Union Minister C.R. Patil highlighted the critical role of water in sustaining life and discussed the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign, which aims to boost groundwater levels by capturing rainwater in consonance with Prime Minister Modi’s vision. He lauded Barga village’s water conservation efforts, stating that it would serve as a model for the state. He also mentioned that states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are actively participating in this campaign.
Patil further reflected on Mahatma Gandhi’s focus on cleanliness alongside the freedom struggle and how Prime Minister Modi personally led the Swachh Bharat campaign by wielding a broom himself. He highlighted the success of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which provided free gas cylinders to women, reducing exposure to harmful kitchen smoke. Patil also noted the construction of over 11 crore toilets across the country over the past decade, significantly improving public health, particularly for children. He commended Rajnandgaon district for its continued efforts in promoting cleanliness.
Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh emphasised the vital role of water conservation, particularly in rural areas, and commended the district’s significant progress in both water conservation and cleanliness. He highlighted the transformative impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission over the past decade, which has led to substantial improvements in public health and sanitation.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing pucca houses to all eligible beneficiaries. He mentioned that, in the first cabinet meeting, the state government approved the construction of over 18 lakh houses. Of these, funds have already been released for 9.37 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, with the approval for an additional 90,000 houses currently underway. Sharma also noted the state’s success in achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status for its villages and the ongoing efforts to upgrade them to ODF Plus status. He called on citizens to make cleanliness and groundwater recharge a people’s movement.
MP Santosh Pandey underscored the importance of water in sustaining life and praised India’s advancements in water management and sanitation. He highlighted the growing public awareness of hygiene and the widespread construction of toilets in houses across the country. Pandey also mentioned that development work has accelerated in the state with the “double engine” government.
Principal Secretary of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Smt. Niharika Barik, delivered the welcome address, detailing the state government’s efforts toward the Swachh Bharat Mission. The program included a video presentation by the Chhattisgarh Government on the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission. Additionally, the event marked the launch of the Suchi App and the Water Management App, alongside the release of FAQ booklets and a publication titled “Ek Kadam Jal Prabandhan Ki Aur.”
During the event, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil virtually inaugurated the Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant in Baghera. They also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various development projects in the district via video conferencing. The program featured the launch of the Yuvodaya video and cutout display, the Yuvodaya ODF Plus poster, and a street play on cleanliness performed by Yuvodaya children. Rajnandgaon, Dongargarh, and Chhuriya development blocks were recognised for their outstanding contributions to cleanliness. The Chief Minister and Union Minister also participated in the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign by planting saplings and visited departmental stalls providing information on government welfare schemes.
On this occasion, Zila Panchayat president Smt Geeta Sahu, former MP Abhishek Singh, former MP Madhusudan Yadav, former MP Pradeep Gandhi, Khubchand Parikh, Zila Panchayat Vice President Vikrant Singh, Bharat Verma, Ramesh Patel, Barga Sarpanch Kumar Sonwani, Joint Secretary at Union Ministry of Jal Shakti Ashok Meena, Durg Divisional Commissioner Satyanarayan Rathore, IG Deepak Jha, Collector Sanjay Agarwal, SP Mohit Garg, and a large number of villagers were present.