Clean India initiative will be blessing in disguise, claims Health Minister Harshvardhan

Union Health Minister Dr. Harshvardhan on Thursday claimed that the 'Clean India' mission will turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the countrymen and appeared to indicate that it was the responsibility of every individual to keep things clean.

"We are not involved in doing anything important work. This is a responsibility of every individual. If I am the Health Minister then and I expect that a worker in my ministry will contribute in his own way and give his heart and soul, then this has to start from myself," Harshvardhan said here to the mediapersons.

"Unless there is effort from my side, I can't expect the same from anyone else. This initiative will turn out to be a blessing in disguise," he added.

As part of his own initiative Harshvardhan was seen wiping the floor using a mop here at Lady Hardinge hospital.

Prime Minister Modi officially launched 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' here at Rajpath today. On the occasion, the Prime Minister also administered a cleanliness pledge to the people. Later, he flagged off a walkathon as part of the campaign.

Earlier this morning, he visited Valmiki Basti and wielded the broom as a token gesture to mark the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'.

The Prime Minister also visited Rajghat and Vijay Ghat to pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on the occasion of their 145th and 103rd birth anniversaries respectively.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan includes sweeping, removal of garbage, debris and unauthorised encroachments from roads, markets and residential places.

The campaign is aimed at making India a clean country by 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.