‘Clean India’ from today, pledge for nation

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan takes part in 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ (Clean India Mission) in New Delhi. Photo: S. Subramanium

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a five-year “Clean India” campaign, or Swachh Bharat Mission, on Thursday morning, most likely by wielding the broom himself. The campaign will culminate on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 2019.

The national campaign will be formally launched at the Boat Club here with the Prime Minister administering a “cleanliness oath” to the nation.

In the hours after the launch with a series of events, including a visit by Mr. Modi to Valmiki Basti and a walkathon, Union government employees will gather in their offices to take the oath, which will be administered by the respective Ministers or administrative heads. They are expected to clean up their work spaces and put in 100 hours a year to keep their home and office surroundings clean.

In his message to the nation on the eve of Gandhi Jayanthi, President Pranab Mukherjee urged everyone to make the mission a success.