The union government launched the Swachhata Pakhwada- Swachhata Hi Seva 2023 campaign to invite large scale public participation and mobilization to carry out cleanliness drives at public places, conduct sanitation drives and initiatives during the fortnight-long event to propel the nation’s swachhata dream under Swachh Bharat Mission. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 105th episode of his Mann Ki Baat programme, has also called on the countrymen to join the Ek Tareekh, Ek Ghanta, Ek Sath cleanliness drive at 10 am on 1st October 2023. Meanwhile, the people have reciprocated to the government’s efforts and have galvanized the movement of swachhata in large numbers. So far, over 7 crore citizens have joined the Swacchata Hi Seva campaign.
People understand fully well the importance of keeping their neighbourhoods and other public places clean and are making efforts in that direction, but keeping our rivers clean is as important. Rivers form the primary source of fresh water and thus are essential to sustain human life. So, we as earthlings need to protect all kinds of water bodies, especially rivers in order to survive. Taking a cue from reality, urban local bodies in Uttarakhand organized the ‘Clean rivers: An opportunity for better tomorrow’ river cleaning drive on the World River Day on 24th September under the SHS campaign. Under the campaign, citizen volunteers from across the state joined forces and carried out cleanliness and awareness drives at river ghats and banks, amrit sarovars, nallahs, lakes and other source of water till 7 in the evening. During this time frame, people cleaned up the garbage at 22 rivers and water bodies of local as well as national importance including Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Nandakini, Ramganga and Saryu rivers.
The sanitation drives were a collective success resulting in the cleaning of over 100 Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs), placing/replacing nets in over 60 drains falling into rivers, installation of twin bins at over 375 spots, over 2000 kgs of wet waste and over 6,200 kgs of dry waste being collected with more than 10,000 citizen volunteers participating in the initiative. On this occasion, cycle rallies were held in Dehradun and Bageshwar, wherein youth and other citizens engaged with the campaign in large numbers.
The main objective of this campaign was to make the youth and citizens aware about the importance of rivers, to free the rivers from garbage and to clean the rivers and keep their flow uninterrupted. So, a better tomorrow can be ensured to the new generation through these clean rivers. Since most of the rivers originate in Uttarakhand, the responsibility of the citizens here is far greater to contribute fully in keeping their rivers clean and uninterrupted right from their source.