New Delhi: Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education & Development of North Eastern Region, inaugurated a Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivir today at Shastri Bhawan to mark the beginning of the Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 fortnight. The event was attended by K. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, Additional Secretaries Anandrao V. Patil and S. K. Barnwal, and other senior officials from the Ministry.
The Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivir aimed to support sanitation workers by distributing Swachhata Kits, which include essential items such as shirts, caps, hand towels, shoes, gloves, masks, and sweets. Dr. Majumdar also administered a Swachhata Pledge to all participants, underscoring the significance of personal and collective responsibility in maintaining cleanliness.
A Swachhata anthem played during the event emphasized the campaign’s theme of “Swabhav Swachhata – Sanskaar Swachhata,” celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. Dr. Majumdar expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for integrating Swachhata into everyday life and extending its reach across the nation. He highlighted the mission’s impact, including the reduction of communicable diseases through improved sanitation and the provision of household toilets.
K. Sanjay Murthy also addressed the attendees, stressing the need for individuals to incorporate cleanliness into their daily routines to alleviate the burden on Safai Mitras. He announced that 6-7 major government initiatives would be introduced to address the needs of sanitation workers, aligning with the Swachhata Hi Seva 2024’s three main pillars: Swachhata Ki Bhaagidari, Sampoorna Swachhata, and Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivirs.
As part of the SHS 2024 campaign, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Autonomous Bodies are actively participating in a range of activities. These include:
- Swachhata Ki Bhaagidari: Public participation through planting saplings, organizing cleanliness runs, administering cleanliness pledges, and hosting waste-to-art competitions.
- Sampoorna Swachhata: Extensive cleanliness drives and adoption of Cleanliness Transformation Units (CTUs) at both urban and rural levels.
- Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivirs: Health check-up camps, honoring Safai Mitras, and linking them with government welfare schemes.
In addition to the Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivir, notable activities include a waste-to-art installation by Jamia Millia Islamia students using repurposed materials, the beautification of Shastri Bhawan premises, and street vendor sensitization on waste segregation.
Dr. Majumdar also highlighted innovative sanitation solutions being developed by HEIs, such as IIT Roorkee’s low-cost filter for arsenic and fluoride removal and IIT Kharagpur’s bio-electric toilet generating electricity from human waste.