MOP&NG Kicks Off Swachhta Pakhwada-2024 with Emphasis on Continued Commitment to Cleanliness

In his address, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri underscored the significance of Swachhta Pakhwada as part of the broader Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas inaugurated Swachhta Pakhwada-2024 today with a ceremonial launch at Shastri Bhawan. The event featured the administration of the Swachhta Pledge by Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, to senior officers and staff of the Ministry. Shri Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, and Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, were also present.

In his address, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri underscored the significance of Swachhta Pakhwada as part of the broader Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. He lauded the campaign as a transformative initiative under the Prime Minister’s leadership, bringing a fundamental change in societal attitudes towards cleanliness.

The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to promoting cleanliness practices across all its departments, involving stakeholders such as Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and affiliated offices. He highlighted last year’s Swachhta Pakhwada achievements, which included constructing sanitation facilities, installing hygiene infrastructure, and conducting cleanliness drives in public spaces and offices from July 1 to July 15, 2023, demonstrating the Ministry's commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG-6).

Shri Puri also celebrated the successes of the Swachh Bharat Mission over the past nine years, noting the construction of nearly 12 crore toilets across rural and urban India, significant improvements in solid waste management, and overall enhancements in health and hygiene practices. He remarked on the impressive increase in urban solid waste management, now at 77%, and highlighted the economic benefits, with households reportedly saving up to Rs. 50,000 due to better health and hygiene practices, according to the UN.

The Minister called for ongoing dedication to cleanliness, emphasizing the importance of making cities garbage-free and addressing legacy dumpsites through the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0).

The Swachhta Pakhwada initiative continues to inspire and drive efforts towards a cleaner, healthier India, reinforcing the Ministry's commitment to sustainable development and improved quality of life for all citizens.