Defence ministry to launch cleanliness campaign

The union defence ministry will kick off an "intensive" national cleanliness campaign Sep 25 as part of "Swachh Bharat Abhiyana to be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Clean Cantonments" drive will comprise a collective and sustained effort to clean our homes, workplaces, streets, roads, pavements, schools, hospitals, markets and all other public places within our purview and keeping them clean for all times to come, said a statement Wednesday.

For this, the Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE), Ministry of Defence, has directed all Defence Estate Officers and Cantonment Boards to undertake "Swachh Shapath" drive Oct 2, 2014 involving all officers and staff in Directorates as well as offices of DEOs.

The DGDE has accordingly prepared an action plan for each Command Directorate and offices under it for a period of five years where a systemic cleanliness drive will be undertaken by a corps of Swachh Bharat Volunteers.

This core of volunteers will be tasked to create mass awareness about how to develop clean habits and keep the surroundings neat and clean.