"Swachh Bharat" : Narendra Modi Launches INDIA's Largest Cleanliness Campaign

On Gandhi Jayanti, PM Modi pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. (Source: Express photo by Anil Sharma)

                                Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Oct 2nd, 2014  launched the country’s biggest-ever cleanliness drive that is expected to cost over Rs 620 billion, asserting that the “Swachh Bharat” mission is “beyond politics” and inspired by patriotism.

          “I am not talking politics…this is beyond politics. This is inspired my patriotism not politcs. We do not have to do with an eye on politics…I say that with a clean heart…" If we paint this again with a brush of politics, we will again do a detriment to mother India.

          “All the governments in this country have made one or the other effort to do this work. Several political, social and cultural organizations have made efforts in this direction. I greet all those, who have worked”, where he formally kicked off the five-year-long campaign that will cover 4,041 statutory towns. 

          ”Even today from this stage, I greet and salute all the governments - central, state and municipal, social organizations which have worked in this direction, whether they are leaders from Sarvodaya or workers of Seva Dal. I launch this programme with their blessings.”    

           Everybody before us has worked for it. Under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership, the Congress had led it…Who was successful, who was not. Let us not get into it who has done it, who has not. We should work responsibly.The major component of the Mission is proposed to be implemented over 5 years starting from October 2nd, 2014 in 4,041 statutory towns. The total expected cost of the programme is Rs 620.09 billion, out of which the proposed central assistance will be of Rs146.23 billion.