New Delhi: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences, along with other key portfolios, virtually launched a dedicated web portal (https://scdpm.nic.in/specialcampaign4/) to monitor the progress of the upcoming Special Campaign 4.0 focused on Swachhata (cleanliness) and reducing pendency in government offices. The campaign, scheduled from October 2 to October 31, 2024, will be preceded by a preparatory phase from September 16 to September 30, 2024.
Special Campaign 4.0 will adopt a saturation approach, targeting all field and outstation offices responsible for public service delivery in addition to the Central Ministries, Departments, and their subordinate offices. The initiative aims to further institutionalize cleanliness and enhance the efficiency of government operations.
During the virtual launch, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that the campaign represents a significant shift in public administration, highlighting how such structured initiatives have transformed the state of government offices over the past decade. “A decade ago, clutter, disorganization, and backlogs were common in government offices. Today, we see cleaner, more organized, and efficient workspaces,” said Dr. Singh. He noted that over the last three years, cleanliness campaigns have been conducted in over 4 lakh offices, freeing up 356 lakh sq. ft of space and generating ₹1,162 crores from scrap disposal. Additionally, 96 lakh files that had completed their retention cycle were systematically weeded out, while 99% of public grievances were resolved.
Dr. Singh also highlighted how the campaign has fostered best practices and innovations in workplace management, streamlining processes across government departments. The campaign is centrally coordinated by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), with a central portal tracking real-time progress to ensure accountability.
Secretary DARPG, V. Srinivas, provided an overview of the objectives and timelines for Special Campaign 4.0, along with best practices from previous campaigns. Other senior officials, including Anurag Jain, Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Vandita Kaul, Secretary of the Department of Posts, and Aruna Nayar, Secretary of the Railway Board, also addressed the gathering, reinforcing the government’s commitment to cleanliness and efficiency in public offices.
