New Delhi: As Diwali approaches, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched the ‘Swachh Diwali Shubh Diwali’ campaign, urging citizens to extend the tradition of Diwali cleaning beyond their homes to their neighborhoods and communities. Running from October 28 to November 3, 2024, this initiative aligns with Swachh Bharat Mission goals and encourages citizens to foster an eco-friendly, waste-free celebration of Diwali.
Union Minister M.L. Khattar, who launched the campaign, emphasized how Diwali embodies the ideals of cleanliness and harmony. “The spirit of Swachhata shouldn’t be confined to our homes but should extend to streets and neighborhoods, making our cities clean during festivals,” he stated. Highlighting the importance of collective effort, he added, “Swachhata Hi Seva should be a sustained movement, ensuring that all Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) are thoroughly cleaned, moving us closer to our vision of Garbage-Free Cities.” Shri Khattar also called for an eco-friendly, plastic-free Diwali that promotes local products and focuses on lighting lamps to spread joy. He encouraged people to extend the spirit of Diwali to underprivileged communities, saying, “Chalo jalayein deep wahan jahan ab bhi andhera hai” (Let’s light a lamp where darkness still prevails).
Minister of State, MoHUA, Tokhan Sahu, shared insights on the cultural significance of cleanliness during Diwali. He emphasized that Goddess Lakshmi, associated with prosperity, blesses those who uphold cleanliness. “Our tradition teaches us to clean our streets, create rangoli, and light lamps as part of Lakshmi Puja, and we should share these practices widely,” he noted.
Secretary, MoHUA, Srinivas Katikithala, praised the states, cities, and ministries for their commitment during the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2024 fortnight. He said, “Your continuous efforts are embedding swachhata as a true sanskaar (value) across our communities.” He urged everyone to continue these practices, saying, “Let this Diwali bring light not just to our homes but to every corner of our cities and towns, resonating beyond the festive season.”
The Swachh Diwali Shubh Diwali campaign includes multiple initiatives:
- Transformation of Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs): Ensuring sustained cleanliness across key urban spaces.
- General Cleanliness Drives: Conducted across neighborhoods and within 24 hours post-Diwali to reinforce community cleanliness and safety.
- Public Engagement with RRR Centers: Promoting Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle principles by encouraging the collection of old items.
- Swachhata Mein Bhaagidari: Initiatives like Swachh Food Streets, Waste to Art projects, ‘Light a Lamp’ activities, and advocating for a plastic-free Diwali.
For more details on RRR Centers, citizens can visit Swabhav Swachhata.
The launch event also showcased the efforts of various states and cities during the SHS 2024 fortnight, with the Union Minister recognizing their significant contributions. The Minister inaugurated a Diwali Exhibit featuring eco-friendly products crafted by women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and interacted with the SHG artisans. The event also saw the unveiling of the Swabhav Swachhata Portal and the campaign’s digital dashboard, along with the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 newsletter, Swachh Vaarta. The newsletter is available in English and Hindi on the SBM Urban website.
Through the Swachh Diwali Shubh Diwali campaign, MoHUA aims to make cleanliness a cornerstone of Diwali celebrations, fostering unity and sustainability in India’s cities and towns.
