Narendra Modi launches Clean India Campaign by sweeping street
Millions take up brooms in response to PM's campaign to sweep away reputation for filth
Millions of Indian schoolchildren, officials and citizens yesterday took up brooms and dustpans to join a countrywide campaign to clean parks, public buildings and streets.
Modi chose the birth anniversary of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi to launch the five-year drive to clean public spaces, aimed at changing India's image as one of the filthiest countries in the world.
The campaign kicked off with a media blitz exhorting Indians to tidy up their homes and offices. Cabinet ministers, police and industry leaders have been clearing files and clutter in their offices all week as part of the campaign.
"A clean India is the best tribute we can pay to Bapu when we celebrate his 150th birth anniversary in 2019. Mahatma Gandhi devoted his life so that India attains swarajya [home rule]. Now the time has come to devote ourselves to the swachchhata [cleanliness] of our motherland," Modi said.
"I urge every one of you to devote at least one hundred hours every year, two hours every week, towards cleanliness. We can't let India remain unclean any longer. On October 2, I myself will set out with a broom and contribute to this pious task."