Uma Bharti participates in cleanliness drive at Delhi's Shram Shakti Bhawan

Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti became the latest minister to take part in a cleanliness drive at the Shram Shakti Bhawan here on Saturday as a part of the NDA Government's 'Swachh Bharat' Mission.

After picking up litter in the park, Bharti said, "If I do this on regular basis, then may be the other people will start doing it naturally. Some people may start doing it out of shame and some others might realise that it is their duty."

Bharti also denied taking up the issue to get media attention, "It is not like that I am doing it only when you (media) are around. I plan to take it up even otherwise."

"With the support of media and the people of India, we can maintain the cleanliness of our surroundings," she added.

Earlier, while chairing the first meeting of 'Mission Swacch Bharat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to every citizen to dedicate 100 hours in a year towards cleanliness.

"Cleanliness was very close to Mahatma Gandhi's heart. 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'. Now, the time has come to devote ourselves towards 'Swachchhata' (cleanliness) of our motherland," said Prime Minister Modi.

"On October 2, I myself will set out with a broom and contribute towards this pious task," he added.

As a reaction to PM Modi's appeal, many BJP leaders took serious initiatives to be a part of the cleanliness drive.

The BJP leader Sambit Patra while praising the PM Modi for such a step said that if people can clean their houses in Diwali, why not the whole year.

Earlier this week, Union Human Resource Development Minister (HRD) Smriti Irani made a surprise visit to the Kendriya Vidyalaya at Sector 8 in R K Puram and participated in the cleaning drive as a part of the government's 'Swachh Bharat' campaign.

Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda yesterday announced that a special cleanliness drive will be carried out at all railway stations across the country on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Gowda said ministers are welcome to visit any railway station on that day. He also invited railway employees to voluntarily participate in this gigantic programme.

The campaign has also taken delivery of appreciation from other party leaders. SP leader Naresh Agarwal praising PM Modi for his cleanliness drive said that such a step is always welcomed.

It is proposed to be implemented over five years starting from October 2, 2014 in all 4041 statutory towns.

The total expected cost of the programme for over five years is Rs. 62,009 crores, out of which the proposed central assistance will be of Rs. 14,623 crores.

The Delhi Municipal Corporations are also geared up to run a 100-day cleanliness drive under the campaign as the Prime Minister Modi also urged the leaders of various organisations to take part in the drive.

In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had talked of the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign and called for India to be clean by October 2, 2019, Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary.