Naidu wants Delhiites to give 2 hours to cleaning

Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu Thursday asked the information and broadcasting ministry and Delhi government to launch a cost-effective mass awareness campaign motivating people to give two hours to cleanliness activities in a week.

Ahead of the launch of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Oct 2 - Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary - the Delhi government will start a week-long awareness programme Sep 25.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aims to provide toilets to every household in the country by 2019.

Naidu discussed various aspects of the mission to be undertaken in Delhi with 30 stakeholder organisations and agencies at an hour-long meeting here, said a ministry official.

Naidu will also write to all the chief ministers on the preparatory measures to be taken up for the launch of the mission.

He said this campaign needs to be promoted as a people's movement given the importance of cleanliness and sanitation for better quality living and working environment.

The minister said an intensive campaign would be taken up Oct 2-23 this year to sensitise and motivate people with the objective of sustaining the same till October, 2019.

Naidu said he would write to all political parties to ensure that posters, pamphlets are not posted on public properties.

The minister will also write to all the union ministers to streamline maintenance of work places through proper space management so that public areas are properly maintained by Central Public Works Department.