Harsh Vardhan leads cleanliness drive in Old Delhi

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan led a cleanliness drive in the historic Turkman Gate area of the walled city of Old Delhi on Monday.

Noting that the day was auspicious due to the occasion of Eid al-Adha, Dr. Vardhan said that the day was perfect for the start of the realisation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of a clean India.

"I thought that the auspicious day of Bakri Eid should be the most appropriate day of launching a social movement centred around sanitation and health. The egalitarian principles associated with this day should be celebrated by people brushing aside social position to pick up the broom and implement the Prime Minister's vision of 'Swachh Bharat'," he said.

Dr. Vardhan, who was born in the walled city area, met with many local residents who shared their grievances with him.

The Health Minister, who was accompanied by North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) Commissioner PK Gupta, also praised the initiatives and spirit of the residents of Old Delhi.

"Two days back the traders of Fatehpuri launched their own initiative to clean up the markets of the walled city by imposing a code of conduct which included disciplinary measures against those who failed to clean up the streets. They did not wait for the civic authorities. This is indeed a model before the rest of the country," he said.

Prime Minister Modi officially launched the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' on Thursday, administering the Swachh Bharat pledge and wielded the broom as a token gesture to mark the cleanliness drive.

The 'Swachh Bharat' campaign focuses on sanitation, hygiene and waste management.