All images, photographs, sketches, and printed material of Mahatma Gandhi and the symbols and articles linked to him have been taken off Swachch Bharat Mission campaigns. Henceforth, these will not be used on public toilets, urinals, and dust bins.
The Union Ministries of Urban Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation issued separate orders prohibiting the mission authorities, Central and State government officials involved in the campaign, from using the Mahatma's motifs on the basis of a verdict delivered by the Chhattisgarh High Court in the Badruddin Qureshi v/z Union of India and others case. The writ petition had contended that the use of logo amounted to disrespect of the Father of the Nation.
The Ministries advised all Central and State government officials to be careful while using the Swachch Bharat Mission logo during the campaign and ensure that it was used in a dignified manner.
It should be ensured that sketches, photographs, pictures, logo of Mahatma Gandhi, his belongings such as glass, charkkha, stick and watch were not displayed on public toilets, urinals and garbage bins, the advisory said.
The Swachch Bharat Mission was launched by the Narendra Modi government on October 2, 2014, amid much fanfare with the goal of making India clean and open defecation-free by October 2, 2019. The government had also launched a massive public awareness campaign. In order to sustain the momentum the programme received in its initial days, it was decided to use the mission’s logo on all official stationery of all the departments as well as posters and wall hangings in the corridors and prominent places in all government building to make the campaign message effective.
Even though the judgment was delivered in March, the relevant orders percolated down the official hierarchy only this month. The Kerala government asked all District Coordinators of the Suchitwa Mission, District Collectors, presidents and secretaries of the of all local bodies to make the necessary changes.
